The Hellgate Junior Precision Rifle Team (L-R): Justin Thomas, Alex Weisenburger, Libby Diller, Sam Weisenburger (back), Abby Donald (front), Jonna Warnken, Aiden Patko and Ibby Lorentz.
BELGRADE – Seven Hellgate Civilian Junior Shooters qualified to shoot at the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) three-position (3P) Air Rifle National Championships in June and five of those also qualified for the National Rifle Association (NRA) National 3P Air Rifle Championship in May. If that excitement wasn't enough for the team, Seeley Lake's Justin Thomas and Ibby Lorentz both shot a perfect 20 shots in prone at the NRA match adding them to the list of national record holders.
The Juniors went to Belgrade, Mont. and participated in two 3P Air Rifle matches for two different organizations Feb. 25 and 26. Both offered the opportunity to qualify for that organization's National Championship after shooting 20 shots each at prone, off-hand and kneeling.
Saturday Feb. 25, shooters competed in the USA Shooting Junior Olympic 3P match. They shot 20 prone, 20 off-hand and 20 stops kneeling for a chance to qualify for the CMP 3P Air Rifle National Competition in Camp Perry, Ohio.
Ibby was the state match winner with a score of 583 with Justin immediately behind her taking second in the state with a 582. Both qualified for nationals as individuals along with teammate Alex Weisenburger of Florence, Mont.
The first Hellgate team included Justin, Sam Weisenburger, Jonna Warnken and Abby Donald with Libby Diller as the alternate. They took first in the state with a score of 2300 and qualified for Nationals.
The second Hellgate Team with Ibby, Alex Weisenburger, Libby Diller and Jack Seibly followed taking third in the state.
Coach Weisenburger was only expecting to be able to take six shooters to compete at Nationals. When seven qualified he was excited since the goal has always been to take as many to nationals as possible.
"When we can walk into Regionals or Nationals with seven or eight kids with our Montana coats on it makes a big statement for our club and our state. A lot of other states may only have one or two kids," said Coach Weisenburger.
Sam and Alex both shot personal bests on Saturday.
On Sunday, Feb. 26 the Hellgate Junior Shooters shot at the NRA Junior 3P Air Rifle Sectional. Ibby took first place overall, followed by Alex earning a silver medal. Justin, Sam and Jonna also shot individual scores that qualified them for the NRA National 3P Air Rifle Championships to be held in Illinois this coming May.
Both Justin and Ibby shot 20 perfect shots in prone, adding them to the list of nearly 40 NRA national record holders for prone.
Coach Weisenburger said the team, consisting of Ibby, Justin, Alex and Sam, took first place at the match. They will not find out for another couple weeks if they won the entire sectional because scores are still being tallied from all over the country.
"We shot really well so it would be really tough for another team to take us out," said Coach Weisenburger.
They will also be shooting two small-bore sectionals the next couple weekends and then it is back to air rifle.
"Colleges look at both [small bore and air rifle] so we are trying to keep both of our scores as high as possible," said Weisenburger.
In addition to trips to Illinois in May and Ohio in June, both Hellgate Junior teams will be going to regional championships in April in Utah in Air Rifle. Justin, Ibby and Alex Weisenburger will also be going to the Junior Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. in late April.
"That should wrap up our season and then we start all over again in September," said Coach Weisenburger.
Coach Weisenburger said his only word for the season thus far is phenomenal.
"Watching the kids shoot in Bozeman on day two for the NRA it was just like clockwork," he said. "Everything just came together. If we shoot like we did on Sunday at Regionals we will win. If we shoot like that at Nationals, we will be in the top three. We just have to keep up the momentum and the enthusiasm."
The students are holding a raffle for a Remington 200 Year Commemorative Special Edition Model 700 ADL .270 Win caliber. Tickets are $10 each with only 350 to be sold. Raffle tickets are available from Chris Lorentz 677-6803. The winner will be drawn March 15. All proceeds support the Hellgate Junior Shooters.
Reader Comments(0)