Shooters Enjoy Competition and Camaraderie at Western Games

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – Many shooters representing the desert southwest, other parts of the U.S. and one from across the pond, William Ellis of Slough, England, enjoyed the sights and sounds of the 2011 CMP Western Games in October. The folks of the Arizona Department of Game and Fish who operate Ben Avery Shooting Facility provided outstanding facilities and service to the CMP and participants.

Here are some of the stories of competitors who comprised 593 event entries (many shooting multiple events) at this year’s matches:



David Molina, 26, of San Antonio, Texas, received an M1 Garand rifle from the M1 for Vets program during the CMP Western Games. Molina, a U.S. Marine, was injured in Iraq in 2005 when an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated near his humvee. Molina suffered multiple fractures and a broken back and spent two years rehabbing in a Texas hospital.

Molina was contacted by M1 for Vets and invited to participate in multiple Western Games events and the Creedmoor Cup Matches. M1 for Vets is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing wounded veterans back to the friendly firing line at competitions throughout the U.S. Thanks to donors, M1 for Vets obtains and donates rifles to several wounded veterans each year.



Greg Volker, Mike Carlo, Damon Brown, Chris Clay and Lloyd Clay are members of the Sonoma City Shooting Club, California. Sonoma club members have attended each of the CMP Western Games since its inception.



Stuart “Jake” De Motte, 24, of Kagel Canyon, California, participated in his first “big match” at the 2011 CMP Western Games. De Motte, a member of the Crescenta Valley Sportsman’s Club, said he’s never competed with more than eight shooters on the firing line.

“I love being here,” he said. The people and the whole atmosphere are just great – and pulling targets in the pits – I loved it all!”



Ed Hotz, 57, of Costa Mesa, California, attended his second Western Games, shooting Garand-Springfield-Vintage Military, Rimfire Sporter and M1Carbine. “I probably enjoy the rimfire sporter match the most because it’s a lot of fun.” Hotz said he plans to make the Western Games an annual event.



Chris Pesuti, 57, of West Hills, and Jeff Ramadan, 47, of Woodland Hills, both of California, are members of the Americana 1800 Adventure Club in Santa Clarita where Ramadan serves as a range safety officer and highpower match director.

Pesuti and Ramadan work together as outdoor telephone techs at AT&T and they participated in their first Western Games this year. Pesuti has owned his M1Garand for five years and this was his second match working the pits. It was Ramadan’s second CMP highpower event, having fired at Camp Perry in 2010.

“There’s a sense of camaraderie at these events where everyone is looking to help each other,” Ramadan said. “We all want each other to do well and getting medals provides a sense of accomplishment, he added.”

Pesuti said “the shooters all have the same mindset – we all have the same common thoughts and it makes for a fun, competitive environment.”

Pesuti said “the shooters all have the same mindset – we all have the same common thoughts and it makes for a fun, competitive environment.”

“In addition to the shooting, I really enjoyed seeing the Saguaro and Cholla (pronounced “choya”) cacti in Arizona. We’re definitely coming back next year,” Pesuti said.



It was a mother-daughter and father-son event for the Daniel and Case clans at the Rimfire Sporter Match. From left are Deana Daniel and daughter Katelyn “Kat” Daniel, Brad Case, Dean Sheppard (Kat’s grandfather), and Eddie Case (Brad’s dad). Eddie Case said the event was more an opportunity for family fun than winning medals.



Casi Garcia, 14, of Prescott, Arizona, was the M1 Carbine Match high junior. Casi was recognized at the awards ceremony by Bill Willoughby, a member of the CMP Board of Directors.



Jon Olson fired his USMC 1903A1 sniper rifle in the Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Match at the 2011 CMP Western Games. Olson teamed up with fellow shooter Ed Brown to fire their first-ever sniper team match.



Brian Rochester, 18, of Yuma, Arizona, participated in his third Western Games in 2011, shooting the M1 Garand matches and the Rimfire Sporter Match in the T Class.



An Arizona common earless lesser lizard enjoyed staying hydrated near a dripping garden hose in the Ben Avery pits.



A great horned owl wasn’t disturbed by two relays of shooting while napping in the shade of the Ben Avery pits on a 99-degree day. See enlarged inset photo.

All scores fired by competitors in the 2011 Western CMP Games are posted at http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_matchResult.cgi?matchID=6478.

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