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USA SHOOTING RANGE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Xentri Garza, a seventeen year-old female shooter from Ft. Worth, Texas, capped off a championship year to capture the sporter crown at the 18th annual American Legion Junior Air Rifle National Championship, August 7-9.
Garza who earlier this year won the National JROTC Championship, added The American Legion sporter championship to her long list of victories by firing a 2286.8/2509. She shoots for the R. L. Paschal H.S. JROTC marksmanship unit, which is sponsored by Post 569.
Eighteen year-old Ethan Settlemires of Walnut, Miss., won the Precision championship with a score of 2462.2/2509. Settleimires, who was a 2006 precision national finalist, is a member of the Cross Roads Shooting Sports Association sponsored by Perry A. Johns Post 6.
Also observing the competition again this year was 1992 rifle Olympic Gold medalist Launi Meili. Meili, got her start as a youth through a shooting program sponsored by the Cheney, Wash., American Legion Post. Meili is the rifle coach for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Rounding out the top five in the two categories were:
Precision competition – Aaron Holsopple shot a 2457.2 to take second place honors. Holsopple is from Wilcox, Pa., and shoots for the Ridgway Rifle Club Jr. Team, sponsored by Edward Lehman Post 467.
Gina Cheliras of Hubbard, Ohio, fired a 2448.0 to capture third place. She is a member of the Ashland Eagles, sponsored by Frank Bender Post 473.
Michael Kulbacki finished in fourth place with a 2445.5. He is from DuBois, Pa., and shoots for DuBois Rifle and Pistol Club, sponsored by DuBois Post 17. Kulbacki also was a 2006 precision national finalist.
Rounding out the top five was Courtney Duncan of Newman, Ga., who shot a 2437.5. Duncan shoots for the East Coweta H.S. MCJROTC marksmanship team, sponsored by Post 57.
Sporter competition - Second place went to Kim Goldberg of Germantown, Md., with a score of 2270.5. She is a member of the Damascus Air Rifle Club, sponsored by Post 171.
Steven Arrington of Los Lunas, N.M., fired a 2266.2 for third place. He shoots for the Valencia County 4-H Shooting Sports team sponsored by Post 85.
Taking fourth was Mathew Brewer shooting a 2261.9. Brewer, of Hampton, Va., is a member of the Lafayette Gun Club of Virginia, sponsored by Post 273.
Taking fifth place honors was James Keith of Albuquerque, N.M., with a 2253.1. Keith is a member of LaCueva H.S. Marine Corps JROTC marksmanship team, sponsored by Post 49.
The tournament staff selected James Keith as the recipient of the annual Francis M. Redington Sportsmanship award. The Francis M. Redington Sportsmanship award was established in May 2005 in the memory of Redington, a long time tournament staff member, who passed away in 2003. Keith was selected as the athlete competing in the national championship who best exemplified good sportsmanship and fair play.
The American Legion’s Junior Shooting Sports program offers junior shooters the opportunity to participate in Olympic-style competition while also providing instruction on the safe handling of firearms.
