National Matches Air Gun Events Return Despite Renovations at CMP Marksmanship Center

By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer/Editor

CAMP PERRY, OH – The 6th annual National Matches Air Gun Events were held at a disheveled CMP Marksmanship Center at Camp Perry July 8 through August 3. Construction equipment, mounds of dirt and building materials surrounded the center as a renovation project, expected to be finished in 2014, left half of the building unusable for match goers. Fortunately, the air gun range within was still able to house the popular National Match air pistol and rifle events.

Shooters fired upon the MegaLink electronic targets in air-conditioned CMP Marksmanship Center, though the rest of the building, under construction, was without power.

The air pistol phase consisted of the 30 Shot Air Pistol Re-Entry Match and the 60 Shot Air Pistol Championship.

The 30 Shot Air Pistol Re-Entry Match consists of a course of fire of unlimited sighting shots and 30 record shots on the ISSF Air Pistol target. PFC Nick Mowrer, 24, of Ramsay, MT, won first place in the match, with his score of 291. John Zurek, 49, of Tucson, AZ, claimed the second place spot with a 286, while Giovanni Gonzalez, 37, of San Sebastian came up short with a 283 for third.

A “Top Center Shot” contest was also held during the match, for the shooter who fires closest to the center of the target. Though many fired 10.9’s, Donald Fleming, 69, of Delhi, NY, fired a 10.9 with a radius of 0.1897 to claim first place in the Center Shot contest.

In the 60 Shot Air Pistol Match, shooters are given 1 hour 45 minutes to complete unlimited sighters and 60 record shots. John Zurek took the first place position in the match with a score of 575-20x. Giovanni Gonzalez followed behind with his score of 569-16x for second place, followed by Brenda Silva, 51, of Snowflake, AZ, with her score of 560-11x in third. Silva was also the High Woman of the match.

Alexander Chichkov, 19, of Tampa, FL, fired a 558-6x to become the High Junior, and Gary Peterson, 65, of Levittown, NY, was the High Senior.

The Air Rifle Events consisted of the 20 Shot Standing Re-Entry (sporter, match and NMAR rifles), 20 Shot Novice Prone Re-Entry (sporter), 20 Shot AiR 15 Rifle Standing Re-Entry, AiR 15 Challenge with Top 20 Shoot Off, Air Rifle 30 Shot Match (precision) and the 60 Shot Air Rifle Match.   

Those participating in the events were able to rent one of the National Match Air Rifles from CMP for use during the competitions. A large quantity of Daisy M853 sporter rifles were also available for use.

Brooke Nofzinger, 12, of Fremont, OH, overtook the 20 Shot Sporter Standing match with her score of 196, followed by Jessica Gibson, 14, of Evergreen, OH in second with 195. Brian Tabares, 22, of Emporia, KS, filled the third place position, firing a 190.

Timothy Sorg, 23, of Churubusco, IN, shot a 161 for first place in the NMAR Match Rifle 20 Shot Standing match, while Chuck Norris, 25, of Groveport, OH, followed closely with a 160 for second place. Dominic Greco, 15, of Atl. Highlands, NJ, took third with his score of 131.

Standing participants were also involved in a “Top Center Shot” competition, where the shooter with the closest center shot is awarded a cash prize. Jose Vazquez, 42, of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, won the contest with his score of 10.9 in a 0.7138 radius.

Charles Sherer fired a 200-10x to become the winner of the 20 Shot Novice Prone Match.

Charles Sherer, 10, of Middle Point, OH, fired an impressive 200-10x for first place in the 20 Shot Novice Prone match. The second place score of 197-7x was fired by Luke Young, 10, of Delphos, OH, followed by Brooke Nofzinger in third with her score of 196-8x.

Sagen Maddalena, 20, of Groveland, CA, won the 20 Shot AiR Rifle Standing event with a score of 194-4x. In second was Ken Van Huis, 47, of Holand, MI, with 192-1x, followed closely by Michael Chirco, 16, of St. Louis, MO, with 191-4x for third.

Troy Lawton was the overall winner of the Top 20 Rifle Shoot Off, followed by Nick Till in second, Paul Kerr in third and SSG Ty Cooper in fourth. Each was awarded a check from the CMP.

Troy Lawton, 50, of Columbus, GA, led the AiR 15 Challenge going into the Shoot Off with a score of 198-11x, followed by Justin Utley, 28, of Mineola, TX, in second and SSgt. Leigh Jenks, 39, of the Air National Guard in third – all separated only by x-count.

In the end, Lawton held on to earn first place in the shoot off with his score of 198-5x. Lawton also received a check for $500 from the CMP. Coming in second was Nick Till, 39, of Howell, MI, with a score of 197-7x. He was also awarded a check from CMP, in the amount of $300. Receiving third place and a $200 from the CMP was Paul Kerr, 32, of Cleveland Heights, OH, with his score of 196-3x, followed by SSG Tyrel Cooper, 28, of the United States Army Marksmanship Unit, with his score of 195-4x for fourth place. SSG Cooper was given a check for $125.

Richard Calvin, 21, of Murfreesboro, TN, took first place in the 30 Shot Match with an aggregate score of 296-22x. Ann Alves, 53, of New Castle, DE, took the second place position, firing a 294-16x, while Mark Matheny, 17, of Middletown, DE, shot a 293-17x for third.

The CMP Marksmanship Center’s large monitors allow spectators to see shot-by-shot scoring as the match is happening.

Shooters participating in the match fired unlimited sighters and 30 record shots. A “Top Center Shot” was also awarded for this match. Ethan Cook, 17, of Marshall, MI, fired the winning 10.9, 0.067 radius shot.

The 60 Shot Air Rifle Match was topped by Richard Calvin with a score of 595-48x. Coming in second was Mark Matheny with his score of 589-41x, while Brandon Muske, 19, of Burton, TX, fired a 585-32x for third.

High Woman of the match was Ariana Grabowski, 17, of Beaver, PA, with a score of 584-36x. Mark Matheny took home the High Junior title with a score of 589-41x, while Charles Daniels, 71, of Lincoln, NE, was the High Senior with his score of 536-16x.

For a complete list of results of the 2013 National Matches Air Gun Events, go to http://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=match&task=edit&tab=results&match=10508.   Photos can be viewed at http://cmp1.zenfolio.com/p229037644. 

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