Olympic Dreams Start Here

Post date: Oct 3, 2013 4:47:10 AM

By Curtis Watkins

While many teenagers had their minds set on summer fun, a group of five had other ideas. Even though the official High School precision rifle season ended in December, this group switched to 3 Position Air Rifle to continue shooting and competing. They shot at TVSA and revitalized the “Midnight Sun Sharp Shooters” once again. The team consisted of Lathrop Senior Joshua Smith, Lathrop Junior Kasey Barnes, Lathrop Sophomore JT Schnering, Lathrop Freshman Liam Eberhart, and Hutchison Freshman Amy Gentry. Meanwhile, TVSA had bought the computerized Orion Scoring System which allowed the team to compete in many virtual nationwide matches.

After shooting a couple virtual practice matches the team competed in the American Legion National match which hosted 505 shooters from across the nation. As a team the Sharp Shooters finished 22^nd of the 100+ teams entered. Individually in the first round Kasey Barnes scored in the top 30 of the 505 individuals entered which qualified her to compete in the 2^nd round. In that 2^nd round match Kasey finished in the 15^th and final spot to be invited to compete head to head in Colorado Springs August 6^th through 11th. In that final match the shooters shot 4 complete matches over 2 days and were awarded for both overall totals and position totals. Kasey finished tied for 4^th in prone, 7^th in standing, and 15^th in kneeling, and 14^th overall of the original 505.

The team also qualified for the 3P National Championships being held in Anniston Alabama July 11^th through 14th. This was 3 separate National Championship matches held over 3 days. Day 1 was the NRA National Championship and the team shook off the jet lag to finish 19^th of the 37 teams. Day 2 brought the 3P Junior Olympics and the team finished 5^th of 35 teams entered. Day 3 was the CMP National Championship and the team finished 11^th of the 34 teams entered. During the NRA match the selections were made for the NRA Postal Match against South Africa and Kasey Barnes’ 9^th place finish qualified her for that team.

Great job and thanks to the team members, their families and, not to forget, the team sponsors including the Fox Lion Club, The Turtle Club, Fairbanks Host Lions Club, Fairbanks Gold Mining Inc./Kinross, Alyeska Pipeline, Craig Price, Clarence and Pat Douthett, Paul Henderson, Monte Plumlee, Douglas and Kristine Tansy, Sigvald and Arlene Strandberg