Rhode Island Junior Olympic Rifle Championships
Each year USA Shooting sponsors the Junior Olympic Rifle Championships held at the Olympic Training Center at Colorado Springs, Colorado. To earn a berth in that prestigious tournament, shooters compete in smallbore and air rifle competition at local state qualifying matches.
The 2017 Rhode Island Junior Olympic Rifle Qualifying match was held in concert with the Connecticut Rifle and Revolver Association at the United States Coast Guard Academy during the first weekend in January.
In ladies’ competition Rebecca Green posted a 563X600 in three position smallbore to win the gold medal and an invitation to the OTC in April. Alexis Bresette shot a 541X600 for silver with Emily Foley rounding out the top three with a 518.
Green repeated her gold medal performance in smallbore by winning air rifle with a score of 384X400. Her University of Akron Rifle teammate, Danielle Makucevich put together a 376X400 for silver. Sydnee Head, 342, was the bronze medalist.
D.J. Titus topped the men’s field in smallbore with a 507X600 which earned him the gold and a trip to Colorado. Charlie Klensch and Brendon O’Rourke were silver and bronze medalist with a 462X600 and a 402X600 respectively.
Marcus Mojica was a dab hand with the air rifle. His 561X600 saw him win a gold medal and an invitation to Colorado.
This is the second year that Connecticut hand Rhode Island have teamed up to sponsor this event. Through the good offices of Head Shooting Sports Coach Dr. Richard Hawkins the shooters were able to compete on Coast Guard Academy Rifle Range which is equipped with electronic targets, familiarizing the shooters with the type of range they will compete on in April.
