USMC Arrieta went into the National Team Trophy Match with something to prove and ended the day with a victory and a new National Matches record of 2958-113X.

The U. S. Marine Corps Rifle Team won a narrow 4895-169 to 4892-213 victory over the Army in the Interservice Championship 10-person team match at the end of July when an Army team member had the misfortune of having a double alibi that cost the Army 30 points and the match. This left the USMC Arrieta team, named for team coach MSgt Alexander Arrieta, eager to prove themselves in the National Team Trophy Match that took place ten days later during the National Matches at Camp Perry. They wanted a victory that would prove they were a team capable of winning without the benefit of a lucky break. What they got was a dominating performance that produced the highest six-person team score ever fired in the National Matches and a place in the record books with a new National Trophy Team Match record of 2958-113X.

USAMU Praslick, named for team coach SSG Emil Praslick, finished the day 23 points and 4Xs out of first place with a score of 2935-109X to fall short of a third straight National Team Trophy win for the Army.

The National Team Trophy Match was introduced into the National Matches in 1903 and is commonly referred to as the ‘Dogs of War Trophy’, it is a bronze plague depicting a warrior of ancient times with four dogs of war on leashes. Historically the trophy is won by either the top Army or Marine Corps team.

The 2006 Matches marked the 103rd anniversary of the National Team Trophy competition. The event is a six person team match, with each firing member shooting the National Match course with no sighters. The shooters pair fire in slow standing and prone, and shoot the rapid fire series one-at-a-time. The coach is especially critical because he must determine all the wind corrections for each of the shooters. The record setting Marine Corps team consisted of team coach MSgt Arrieta, team captain Sgt Kevin Arbogast, SSgt Daniel Duitsman, SSgt Jason Benedict, GySgt Kevin Marion, CW02 Billy Ray Williamson, SSgt Ryan Benedict, and SSgt John Godwin.

The Dogs of War Trophy that is awarded to the Match winners has been the object of fierce rivalries between the Army, Marine Corps, All-Guard, U.S. Army Reserves and all other active and reserve military teams since the “big team match” was incorporated into the National Matches in 1903. A civilian team has never won the trophy and since 1993, the Army and Marines have dominated, winning the National Team Trophy Match a combined 13 times. The lone exception was a Marine Corps Reserve team victory in 2001.

Pennsylvania Rifle and Pistol Association was the top Civilian team for the second year in a row in a close race with the Ohio Rifle and Pistol Senior Gold Team. Pennsylvania won by only one point with a score of 2898-87X and finished 7th overall.

The Pennsylvania Rifle and Pistol Association pulled off a repeat in a hotly contested Soldier of Marathon Trophy state and club team competition. Pennsylvania won last year’s High Civilian title and this year edged out the Ohio Rifle and Pistol Senior Gold Team with a close score of 2898-87X to Ohio’s 2897-82X. The Pennsylvania team placed seventh overall behind six military teams. Team members for Pennsylvania were coach William Gelet, team captain David Little, Thomas Rider, Michael LaRuffa, Michael Harpster, James Potter, Ronald Smith and Michael Mohney.

Connecticut Palmer was the top Junior team in the 2006 National Team Trophy Match with a score of 2852-60X which placed the team 16th overall.

The top Junior team earning the Minuteman Trophy was Connecticut Palmer, designated after team coach Bradford Palmer, the team captain was Katharine Coggshall and firing members were Julie Coggshall, Ryan Castonguay, Neil Sookdeo, Jeffrey Mendyka, Amanda Elsenboss and Steven Joyce. The team finished 16th overall with a score of 2852-60X.

For complete results from the National Team Trophy Match visit the CMP website at http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_matchResult.cgi?matchID=1409, for photos of the event go to http://www.odcmp.com/Photos/06/NTT/index.htm.