Rifle: Ridgeland wins, LaFayette edged out in Orion League opener

Ridgeland’s Air Force JROTC air rifle team scored a 1,3411,220 victory over Bethel Air Force JROTC of Spanaway, Wash. in last week’s National Air Rifle League.

With the win, the Panthers are in second place in their division with a 1-0 record. Ridgeland was led by Tyler Atchison, who shot a 361 (out of a possible 400). The remaining contributing members were Martin Camlic (352), Daniel Barrett (333), and Herbert Bradley (295).

Also shooting for Ridgeland was Savannah Carroll (280), Tristan Duff (264), Michael Hoffman (213) and Zori Champion (211). Only the top four individual scores count toward the team scores. Ridgeland is coached by MSgt Carl Gentry, Jr.

Bethel fell to 0-1 on the season. They are currently in seventh place in their division. Bethel was led by Gerritt Wiedmeier, who shot a 328.

Next up for Ridgeland will be a match C. T. Johnson Army JROTC from San Antonio, Texas, who currently has 1-0 record.

These two teams are competing in the JROTC Precision Distinguished Division of the Orion National Air Rifle League. Sponsored by the Orion Scoring System, the league is a national team league for high school teams and junior rifle clubs.

Fountain Fort Carson Army JROTC edged out LaFayette Army JROTC, 1,4971,487, in last week’s National Air Rifle League. With the win, Fountain Fort Carson of Colorado is in second place in their division at 1-0.

Fountain Fort Carson was led by Julia Flake who shot a 377.

LaFayette dropped to 0-1 on the season. They are currently in sixth place in their division. The Ramblers were led by Emma Sargeant and Alyssa Kiser, who both shot a 383, Logan Massingill (370) and Andrew Carroll (351). Also shooting for LaFayette was Steven Thompson (346), Christopher Franklin (313), Troy Mussared (292) and Eli Prince (271).

LaFayette is coached by Perry Fouts.

Next up for LaFayette will be an online match against Liberty Navy JROTC from Renton, Wash., who currently has an 0-1 record.

LaFayette is competing in the JROTC Precision Champions Division of the Orion National Air Rifle League. Sponsored by the Orion Scoring System, the league is a national team league for high school teams and junior rifle clubs. The Champions Division is the most difficult division in the conference.

Both divisions of the league have two parts. An eight-week roundrobin regular season going on now, followed by a single-elimination tournament, for the top eight teams who will compete for the league championship.

In each game the teams compete in what is known as a Standing Air Rifle match. The match is almost identical to the air rifle events in the Olympic Games. Each athlete shoots 40 shots in the standing position, the most difficult position in rifle competitions. Each shot is worth a maximum of 10 points. The sum of points scored in the 40 shots is the athlete’s total. The team score is comprised of the best four athletes from each team.

For more information on the league, including complete standings, visit orionscoringsystem. com/AirRifleLeague.