Elite Junior Marksmen Determined at CMP National Air Rifle Championships and National Junior Olympics
By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer

The Patriot Shooting Club of Virginia broke three National Records during the CMP National Three Position Air Rifle Championship.

CAMP PERRY, OH – Junior air rifle competitors and supporters from around the country ventured to the new Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center June 24-28 to compete at the USA Shooting National Junior Olympics, as well as the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Three Position Air Rifle Championships. The week marked the end of a competitive expedition that began in November and was the last opportunity for some competitors at air rifle glory.

Sarah Osborn of Patriot Shooting Club set a new National kneeling record during her performance at the CMP event, where she earned second place. She also came in first place during the USA Shooting Junior Olympic competition for the second year in a row and earned a seat on the National Junior team.

MidwayUSA, the official sponsor of the CMP National Three Position Air Rifle Championship, contributed over $460,000 throughout the competition – doubling their prize amounts from last year’s National Championship event. The organization is a leading U.S. firearms retailer, committed to helping sustain junior shooting programs around the country by offering generous endowments.

Alec Patajo of West Seattle Totems Thunderbirds, WA, claimed the gold medal during the CMP precision competition. He also set two new Age Group III National Records with his performance, including a 3x20 plus finals score of 697.3.

Overall winning teams received substantial amounts of prize monies from both the CMP and MidwayUSA towards their programs. Third place teams received $1,500 from the CMP and $5,000 towards their Midway endowment, second place teams earned $2,500 from the CMP and $7,500 towards their Midway endowment, while first place teams secured $4,000 from the CMP and an unbelievable $10,000 for their Midway endowment.

The Top 3 winning teams in each discipline were:

Sporter:
1. Zion Benton NJROTC Team 1, IL – 2185-65x
2. American Legion Post #42, IA – 2157-66x
3. Gulfport High School MCJROTC Team 1, MS – 2155-66x

Precision:
1. Patriot Shooting Club, VA – 2352-158x
2. Hardcore 4 Red, GA – 2330-148x
3. Ashland Eagles, OH – 2328-146x

In individual action, Gabriel Palermo, 17, of Freeport High School, IL, moved from third place to first to earn the gold in the finals match during the sporter competition. Palermo fired impressive numbers during the final, including a 10.8, to receive an overall score of 648.7-16x. He also received $1,000 from the CMP.

Crowds gathered at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center as the top juniors from around the country took center stage on the firing line during the USA Shooting Junior Olympics and the CMP National Three Position Air Rifle Championships, June 24-28.

“He’s a great shooter, and we’re very proud of him,” said his coach, Sgt.Maj. Michael Dechy.

Following in second place was Jackson Thompson, 17, of Sapulpa High School MCJROTC, OK, with a score of 645.9-19x. Thompson set a Marine Corps JROTC National Record in standing during the CMP event, with his exceptional score of 181-5x. He also took home a check for $750 from the CMP.

Jackson Thompson of Sapulpa High School MCJROTC, OK, set a new Marine Corps JROTC National Record during the standing portion of the CMP event. Thompson earned second place overall.

Brian Hampton, 16, of Charlotte Rifle & Pistol Jr. Team, NC, trailed closely behind with a score of 643.5-22x for third. Hampton also shot remarkably well during the final, recording an outstanding 10.9 during his performance.

“I didn’t know what to think after I shot that. I tried not to think about it so I could go on shooting the rest of the final,” he said with a laugh.

Brian Hampton of Charlotte Rifle & Pistol Jr. Team, NC, set two new National Records for Junior Clubs during the Junior Olympic match. Hampton also finished in third place during the CMP event.

Hampton also set two National Records for Junior Clubs during the Junior Olympic match: 96.6 finals score and an overall score of 653.6x. For his third place finish in the CMP Nationals, he earned a check of $500, courtesy of the CMP.

In the precision competition, Alec Patajo, 14, of West Seattle Totems Thunderbirds, WA, fired a superior score of 697.3-48x to earn the gold medal. He also set two Age Group III National Records with his performance: a 3x20 score of 595-48x and a 3x20 plus finals score of 697.3.

Gabriel Palermo of Freeport High School, IL, powered his way from third place to first during the CMP sporter finals to be crowned the overall champion.

Sarah Osborn, 15, of Patriot Shooting Club, VA, secured second place with her score of 695.5-45x. Osborn also broke the National kneeling record in four categories, including the overall record, for her score of 200-19x.

Teammate Madeleine Godwin, 18, took the third place spot on the podium, firing a 692.4-43x. Patriot Shooting Club of Virginia was well represented in the final, with three members firing and finishing in the Top 4. The girls used the opportunity to build each other up as well as gain valuable competitive experience.

Zion Benton High School finished in first place during the CMP sporter competition, followed by American Legion Post #42 and Gulfport High School MCJROTC. Gulfport had an outstanding performance at the Junior Olympic event, setting a new Marine Corps JROTC National Record with their overall score of 2184-72x.

“They’re your teammates, and you want them to do well when you shoot against them, but they also push you to do better yourself,” said Godwin. “It’s great for all of us.”  

With their combined scores, Patriot Shooting Club finished in first place during the competition and broke three National Records, including the overall team record for their score of 2352-158x.

Also breaking an overall team record during the week was Gulfport High School, which set a Marine Corps JROTC National Record during the sporter Junior Olympic competition, with an overall score of 2184-72x.

Patriot Shooting Club of Virginia earned the first place trophy during the CMP precision event, followed by Hardcore 4 Red in second and Ashland Eagles in third.

As a reminder of the CMP’s commitment to supporting the lives and futures of its junior marksmen, the Top 3 placing graduating seniors in the sporter and precision disciplines during the CMP Nationals event received $1000 scholarships to use toward their vocational school or college tuition.

In sporter, Bryce Boden, 18, of Brown County 4-H Shooting Sports, WI; Kevin Hamilton, 18, of Zion Benton; and Nathanial Cimino, 18, of Fountain-Fort Crason High School JROTC, CO; each earned scholarship checks from the CMP. In precision, Madeleine Godwin; Selina Curren, 18, of MCGC Kats, AL; and Kristyn Trump, 18, of DuBois Jr. Rifle Team, PA; earned the scholarships.

The Top 3 precision marksmen represented excellence in shooting as first place finisher Alec Patajo set two new National Records, second place finisher Sarah Osborn won the Junior Olympic event and third place finisher Madeleine Godwin earned a $1,000 scholarship from the CMP.

The CMP would like to extend an incredible amount of gratitude towards MidwayUSA for their exceptional commitment to the event and junior marksmen around the country. Congratulations to all competitors for reaching the National level, and good luck to all graduated seniors in their futures.

Junior Olympic Recap:

Brian Hampton, 16, of the Charlotte Rifle & Pistol Jr. Team, NC, was the overall leader during the sporter competition with his score of 653.6-23x. Brittany Robins, 16, of Gulfport High School MCJROTC, MS, followed closely in second with her score of 651.1-27x, while Isela Velazquez, 16, of RL Paschal JROTC, TX, rounded out the top three with a score of 646.1-14x.

Top 5 Sporter Teams:
1. Gulfport High School MCJROTC Team 1, MS – 2184-72x
2. Zion Benton NJROTC Team 1, IL – 2160-59x
3. Daleville High School JROTC Team 1, AL – 2159-60x
4. South Panola High School AFJROTC, MS – 2149-58x
5. Lebanon High School JROTC, OR – 2146-66x

Sarah Osborn, 15, of Patriot Shooting Club, VA, took home the gold during the precision competition for the second year in a row, firing an overall score of 696-49x. Kristyn Trump, 18, of DuBois Jr. Rifle Team, PA, earned a hard-fought race for second with her aggregate score of 692.6-42x, as Justin Kleinhans, 14, of Black Swamp Jr. Rifle, OH, landed in third with his score of 691-3-41x.

Osborn and Kleinhans, as the top male and female juniors of the competition, secured spots on the USA National Junior Shooting Team and official USA Shooting jackets.

Top 5 Precision Teams:
1. Hardcore 4 Red, GA – 2345-159x
2. Patriot Shooting Club, VA – 2344-158x
3. CRPA Sutter Union Gold, CA – 2334-138x
4. Lumpkin Co. High School, GA – 2332-137x
5. MCGC Kats, AL – 2328-141x

For a complete list of results for the CMP Three Position Air Rifle National Championship and the Junior Olympic National Championship, visit https://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=match&task=edit&match=11565. Photos for both events can be found at http://cmp1.zenfolio.com/.