GHS NJROTC marksmanship team places Seventh at State Championships

The cadet marksmanship team of Greenville High School NJROTC competed at the Area 10 marksmanship championships in Granbury, Texas on Saturday. Thanks to solid performances by all members of the team, Greenville earned a seventh place finish among the state’s top twelve shooting teams.

In order to be invited to the championships in Granbury, the GHS Marksmanship team had to qualify with a 12th place or better finish in a qualification tournament. GHS finished seventh in the qualification as well, earning its berth to the championship event. Liz Nessler led the Greenville team with a score of 513, followed by Madison Champion, Kason Richards, and Alejandra Rodriguez. While all members of the team shot well, there was still room for improvement. Nessler and Champion both shot personal bests at the tournament, while first time state attendees Rodriguez and Richards delivered solid performances. The score attained at the tournament was among the best ever shot by the team as a whole.

Greenville NJROTC began its marksmanship program in earnest three years ago and has been invited to the state tournament each of those years. Every year, the team has improved its place at the state tournament.

Three-position air rifle (3PAR) became the dominant junior rifle program in the USA in the 1990s because its equipment, especially sporter equipment, is less expensive and because it offers so many exciting competitions. 3PAR is an ideal way to teach youth safe gun handling, range safety and real marksmanship skills. Participation in 3PAR requires concentration, patience, and determination and can lead to higher level competitive events. Three-position air rifle is common among hundreds of JROTC units across the country as well as various other youth programs including 4H, the Boy Scouts, and USA shooting. Ginny Thrasher of West Virginia University won the United State’s first gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 in the 10 meter Air Rifle competition.

For more information on Greenville NJROTC and its activities please contact LCDR Larry Wilcock (wilcockl@greenvilleisd.com) or AZ1 Mike Flater (flaterm@greenvilleisd.com) or visit the unit’s website (http://www.greenvilleisd.com/domain/374) or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ghssealions/