Davis and Atchley Cruise to National JROTC Air Rifle Victories As Shelby County and Ozark Win Team Championships

ANNISTON, ALABAMA – Connor Davis, 18, of Shelby County High School, Kentucky, set two new national Marine Corps Junior ROTC precision air rifle records only to break his own record the next day en route to winning the individual national championship here on 25-26 March. He amassed an aggregate score of 1291.05 with 87 center shots.

Connor Davis, the 2011 precision air rifle champion, displays three certificates representing three new Marine Corps JROTC records set en route to his victory.

Davis, a junior at Shelby County, fired a qualifying score of 593-41 out of a possible 600 on the first day of competition – giving him a five point lead going into the 10-shot final. He then shot a 103.6 in the final to set the new 3x20-plus final record of 696.6. Davis owns the current USMC JROTC record of 103.8 which he set in December 2010 at the Gary Anderson Invitational.

On Day II Davis fired a record-setting qualifying score of 595-46, topping April Dunn’s 2007 record of 594. He added a 102.5 in the final, surpassing his previous day’s record with a 697.5 3x20-plus final.

“This year was good, an undefeated season, so that was a big plus,” Davis said. “It’s good to finally be here. Since day one when I started as a freshman, this is what we worked for and it’s definitely good to finally get here.”

In opening day competition at the CMP Marksmanship Center in Anniston, Alabama, Connor Davis prepares for his next shot. The high school junior said he hopes to return for next year’s championship.

Davis began his shooting career at age nine when his mom got him involved with 4-H with a sporter rifle just for fun, he said. “Then I found out that we had a high school in town with an ROTC program with a rifle team, so immediately I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” Davis went directly into precision air rifle competition as a freshman.

Davis next travels to Colorado Springs to compete in smallbore and air rifle in the Junior Olympics and again at Camp Perry. Davis said he will probably shoot a couple of USA Shooting matches to conclude his season and then looks forward to competing once again in JROTC as a senior and hopes to be back in Anniston for next year’s championship.

CMP Board Vice Chair Judy Legerski congratulates Kirsten Moyer for her second place finish in the precision air rifle championship. Moyer tied the Navy JROTC record for 20 shots standing with a 196-14.

After high school Davis said he’s hopefully attending college and likes the notion of competing on the University of Kentucky rifle team. “It’s only an hour from home and I go up to the range all the time to watch their home matches, so I think that would be great,” he added.

Kirsten Moyer sits and reflects moments after firing a 196-14 standing on the second day of competition, tying a Navy JROTC record.

Kirsten Moyer, 18, of Manzano High School Navy JROTC, New Mexico, placed second in the precision championship with an aggregate score of 1273.1-85. Moyer tied the Navy record of 196-14 in the standing phase of the competition on the second day. Moyer battled from the sixth position after the Day I qualifier to fourth after the final. She climbed into second place on Day II but couldn’t close the gap on the record-setting Davis.

Kevin Cruz, 18, of Del Valle High School Army JROTC, Texas took home the bronze medal with an aggregate score of 1271.4-82 in precision competition

Kevin Cruz, 18, of Del Valle High School Army JROTC, Texas, took home the bronze medal with an aggregate score of 1271.4-82. Cruz outscored Moyer in the Day II final, 101 to 98.2, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Moyer’s five point advantage entering the final.

Mikaelah Atchley, 18, of Daleville High School Army JROTC, Alabama, won the gold medal in the sporter division with an aggregate score of 1229.3-55 and she tied the national Army JROTC sporter qualifying record score of 570-31 on Day I.

In sporter air rifle competition, Mikaelah Atchley, 18, of Daleville High School Army JROTC, Alabama, won the gold medal with an aggregate score of 1229.3-55 and she tied the national Army JROTC sporter qualifying record score of 570-31 on Day I. Like Davis in precision air rifle, Atchley’s lead was not relinquished throughout the two-day event. She qualified for the final with a 566-24 on Day II.

Sporter division second place finisher Tessa Howald, 17, of Ozark High School Army JROTC, Missouri, made a run at Mikaelah Atchley’s lead on Day I, coming up three points shy after the final.

Second place finisher Tessa Howald, 17, of Ozark High School Army JROTC, Missouri, made a run at Atchley’s lead on Day I, coming up six points shy after the final

CMP Board Member Cris Stone awarded Alexi Henry her bronze medal for earning third place in the 2011 sporter championship.

Alexi Henry, 15, of Wagener-Salley High School Army JROTC, South Carolina, also pursued Atchley but still trailed by six points on Day II. In the end Howald finished second with a 1213-43 and Henry took third with 1210.55-40.

“I worked very hard to get here, practicing everyday” Atchley said following the awards banquet Saturday night. “I feel pretty accomplished actually, to be on the podium.

Mikaelah Atchley said she worked very hard all year to reach to top of the podium at the 2011 national championship. Atchley said 2010 winner Thomas Wheeless inspired her to reach the top of the sporter class.

“Last year it was Thomas Wheeless (2010 sporter champ) and I told him actually when he was up there, ‘I wanted to be just like you last year,’ and I made it and I was pretty excited about that.”

“Everyone asks me if I’m going to shoot in college and I have to disappoint them. I’m going to be a physical therapist and because of the amount of extra time it will take, I won’t have the time to shoot competitively,” she said.

Though they didn’t place in the top three medal count, Zachary Frohn, 17, of Charlotte High School Navy JROTC and Shawn Wingerter, 18, of David Crockett High School, Tennessee, both tied Navy JROTC records. Frohn fired an outstanding 198-13 in the prone position on the second day of competition, tying the Navy JROTC national record. Wingerter fired a aggregate score of 562-19 on the second day of competition. Each shooter was recognized for his accomplishments at the awards ceremony Saturday evening.
 

Shelby County High School USMC JROTC, Kentucky, won the precision air rifle gold medal with an aggregate score of 4662-277. Team members are Connor Davis, Heather Kirby, Keri Marlin and Brandon Thompson. The team was coached by 1Sgt Willie Brown. As the first place team, Shelby HS was presented individual gold medals, a team check from CMP for $1,000 and a team trophy.

In team competition, Shelby County High School USMC JROTC won the precision air rifle gold medal with an aggregate score of 4662-277. Team members are Connor Davis, Heather Kirby, Keri Marlin and Brandon Thompson. The team was coached by 1Sgt Willie Brown. As the first place team, Shelby HS was presented individual gold medals, two team checks from CMP for $1,000 each and a team trophy.

East Coweta High School USMC JROTC of Georgia placed second with an aggregate score of 4620-256. The team received silver medals, a team trophy and CMP check for $500. Team members are Tyler Dayton, Kelsey Moral, Adam Grumbling and Ciara Centenera. East Coweta is coached by MSgt John Skinner.

The third place finisher in the precision air rifle class was Del Valle High School Army JROTC, Texas, with a total team score of 4613-267. Also winners of a $500 cash award from CMP, Del Valle team members are Kevin Cruz, Jasmine Juarez, Leslie Gallo and Jose Arras. The team is coached by LTC Gary Crafton.

In sporter team competition, Ozark High School Army JROTC, Missouri took top honors with a total score of 4357-130. Team members are Tessa Howald, Makennon Doran, Shelby Brummett and Logan Hunt. The team is mentored by 1Sgt Terry Thompson. Ozark was awarded a Challenger air rifle donated by Crosman and a $200 merchandise certificate from Daisy Outdoor Products.

In sporter team competition, Ozark High School Army JROTC, Missouri, took top honors with a total score of 4357-130. Team members are Tessa Howald, Makennon Doran, Shelby Brummett and Logan Hunt. The team is mentored by 1Sgt Terry Thompson. Ozark was awarded a Challenger air rifle donated by Crosman, two $1000 cash awards from CMP and a $200 merchandise certificate from Daisy Outdoor Products.

Daleville High School Army JROTC, Alabama, won second place with an overall score of 4343-130. Mikaelah Atchley anchored the team, followed by Joshua Ranes, Joshua Nabinger and Grady Wilkes. Daleville is coached by LTC Ralph Aaron. The team took home a $150 merchandise certificate from Daisy Outdoor Products and a $500 cash award from the CMP. Each top service team received a $1000 cash award from the CMP. Overall top teams also received a $1000 cash award from the CMP and overall second and third place teams received a $500 cash award from the CMP.

Rayville High School Army JROTC, Louisiana, placed third with an aggregate score of 4311-127. Team members are Gary Johnson, Charles Hollis, Jack Lockeby and Cody Bernal. The team is coached by LTC Sladen Mohl. As a third place sporter finisher, Rayville was awarded a $100 merchandise certificate from Daisy Outdoor Products.

Precision Individual Top 10
• Connor Davis, Marine Corps
• Kirsten Moyer, Navy
• Kevin Cruz, Army
• Jodi Cull-Host, Navy
• Jasmine Juarez, Army
• Heather Kirby, Marine Corps
• Tyler Dayton, Marine Corps
• Maya Arredondo, Army
• Keri Marlin, Marine Corps
• Kimberly Goldberg, Navy

Sporter Individual Top 10
• Mikaelah Atchley, Army
• Tessa Howald, Army
• Alexi Henry, Army
• Shawn Wingerter, Navy
• Gary Johnson, Army
• Alexandrea Provine, Army
• Amber Williams, Army
• Tyler Rico, Army
• Thomas Wheeless, Marine Corps
• Paul Hurd, Army

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