CMP Games Matches Continue to Stir Fun at National Matches

CAMP PERRY, OH – The birth of the CMP Games Matches began 14 years ago, when the John C. Garand Match was introduced. The match was meant to attract the “average” shooter to competition target shooting – and it did.

Father and son, LeRoy Ornat, 72, of Mishawaka, IN, and Glenn Ornat, 40, of Wakarusa, IN, enjoyed their time together at Camp Perry for the National CMP Games Events. They both participated in the M1 Carbine, Springfield Rifle and John C. Garand Match.

Because of the thousands of shooters that began to participate in the Garand Match, CMP stemmed out into creating other events that could similarly produce camaraderie, fun and challenges. Thus came the M1 Carbine Match, Springfield, Vintage Military and Vintage Sniper Matches. The popularity of the CMP Games Matches soon led their induction into the National Matches at Camp Perry, where they are still fired today.

The M1 Carbine Match was fired on August 2 on Rodriguez Range during one of the sunniest days of the 2013 National Matches. Many Carbine enthusiasts were on the range that day, not looking to earn a medal, but just aiming for a good time.

Local media members Bert Fall of WPCR – PortClintonRadio.com (left) and Donna Lueke (right), editor of The Beacon, came to Camp Perry to shoot in the Carbine match.

“Nobody is actually good at shooting this gun. It’s all over the place. You just shoot it because it’s fun,” said Steve Cooper, 56, of Elyria, OH.

Danielle Hernandez (left) and her sister Angelynn (right) were first time Carbine shooters at the match on August 2.

First-time Carbine shooters Angelynn Hernandez, 15, of Odessa, FL, and her sister Danielle, 21, came off of the line looking as if they were filled with joy – and relief in knowing that their relay was finally over.

“My shoulder is a little sore now. I didn’t realize how much the gun would be pushing against it,” Angelynn said, smiling as she rubbed her injury. “But it was still a lot of fun.”

Her sister Danielle added, “It was a lot harder than I thought, but I’m ready to do it again.”

John Spickard of Lebanon, TN (right) and Alvin Scott of Old Hickory, TN (left) have been shooting together for 30 years, demonstrating the sort of lifelong friendships the sport of riflery can bring.

Mark Looney, 56, of Springfield, OH, was the overall winner in the M1 Carbine Match, with his score of 372-6x. John Henderson, 53, of Sonora, CA, took the second place position, just one point behind Looney, with an aggregate score of 371-9x. Coming in third place was Robert Winding, 53, of South Bend, IN, firing a 369-3x.

Andrew Williams, 18, of Granby, MA, was the High Junior, with a combined score of 354-2x, while William Aten, 61, of Kingwood, TX, took the High Senior spot with his score of 368-6x. Aten also set a new senior record, previously set by George Wilson with a score of 366-06x in 2009.

Guy Welever and his son Burke, both of Hudson, OH, shot together for the first time since Burke’s return from a stay in Denmark.

The Springfield Match was fired on August 3, along with the Vintage Military and the Garand Matches. The Springfield event turned out to be a neck and neck competition, as the top two places were only divided by the x-count.

Daniel McSorley, 51, of Caledonia, MI, fired a 292-7x to squeak out a first place win overall , narrowly beating Roy Mitchell Jr., 42, of Parma, OH, who fired a 292-2x. Harold Pate, 52, of Fort Worth, TX, recorded an aggregate score of 291-8x for third.

Briar Mullally, 16, of Essexville, MI, was the High Junior of the match, firing a 283-3x, while John Chubb, 60, of Knoxville, TN, fired a 288-5x to receive the High Senior award. Chubb also won the 3-Gun Aggregate award, having posted an aggregate score of 853-13x after firing in the Springfield, Vintage Military and Garand matches.

Doug Pascale, of Sterling, VA, shot his Arisaka 99 rifle in the Vintage Military Rifle Match. Doug’s grandfather, Sgt Adam Ruppe, brought the rifle back from the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. The rifle has been on display in the Pascale household and Doug decided to bring it to Camp Perry to the National Matches this year.

The Vintage Military Rifle Match was an even tougher battle, where the top three places were separated by the x-count.

In the end, Christopher Beal, 31, of Lewis Center, OH, was the overall leader with his score of 289-8x. Franco Scarpino, 66, of Pembroke, MA, fell just behind Beal, firing a score of 289-6x, while Lee McKinney, 66, of Rio Rico, AZ, slipped to third place by only one x, with a score of 289-5x.

Some shooters added more fun to the day by splashing on a little face paint.

Austin Farnsel, 20, of Berkey, OH, fired a 271-2x to become the High Junior of the match, while Franco Scarpino claimed the High Senior award. Though only beating McKinney by one x-count during the competition, Scarpino also broke the High Senior Record of 288-7x, interestingly enough set by McKinney back in 2009.

Familiar and fresh faces were present on the line during the ever-popular John C. Garand match. Even the police chief of Port Clinton, where Camp Perry is located, stopped out to fire a few rounds on the range.

Chief Robert Hickman of the Port Clinton Police Department also shot in the match, firing his M1 rifle for the first time in the 20 years that he’s owned it.

“I got talked into coming out here by the mayor,” said Chief Robert Hickman. “I’ve had my own Garand for about 20 years now and have never shot it. I hit the target, which is good, and I stayed out of the dirt. It was fun.”

Heavy fog postponed the early morning relays of the matches on August 3. Shooting was delayed for about an hour until the fog finally lifted and the targets could be seen.

Ryan Vander Poppen, 41, of Fennville, MI, claimed the Garand Trophy, firing a 292-11x to become the overall leader in the As-Issued Garand Match. Eric Polesovsky, 35, of Toledo, OH, took the second place position with 291-10x, nudging just above Douglas Armstrong, 53, of Lexington, NC, who fired a 291-8x for third.

Robert Davis, 20, of Wichita Falls, TX, was the High Junior of the Garand Match, with a score of 285-9x, while George Gurick Jr., 65, of Farmington, NH, was the High Senior, firing a 291-3x.

Michigan competitors Daniel McSorley and Ryan Vander Poppen pose with with picture plaques and rifles after the Saturday Festival Closing Awards Ceremony.

Results can be viewed at http://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=match&task=edit&tab=results&match=9827. Photos can be viewed at http://cmp1.zenfolio.com/f347310106.

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