30 youth marksmen to compete in Legion air rifle championship
The American Legion’s 33rd Junior 3-Position Air Rifle National Championship will be held July 18-20 in Hillsdale, Mich., on the campus of Hillsdale College. This is the first year the competition will be held on the historic campus of Hillsdale. The college also recently hosted the Legion’s 2024 National Oratorical Contest for the first time thanks to a new relationship between The American Legion and Hillsdale College.
During competition July 18-19, participants in both the precision and sporter categories will shoot a .177 caliber air rifle in three positions – prone, standing and kneeling – twice. The top eight competitors in both categories will advance to the finals on Saturday, July 20, where each shooter will fire 10 shots standing. The winner from each respective category will receive a $5,000 scholarship provided by The American Legion and the Sons of The American Legion. A $1,000 scholarship, provided by the American Legion Auxiliary, will be awarded to the second-place finishers in each category.
The precision and sporter champions will also receive a trip to The American Legion’s 105th National Convention in New Orleans, in August to be honored alongside the other American Legion youth program champions.
The top 15 precision shooters are:
1. Viola Allen of Texas, Granbury High School
2. Kamdyn McFarland of Montana, Yellowstone Rifle Club
3. Emme Walrath of Wisconsin, American Legion Post 295
4. Hunter Jenkins of West Virginia, Mason Dixon Junior Rifle
5. Marcus Klemp of Montana, 10 Ring Junior Shooting Team
6. Gabriella Sprague of Pennsylvania, DuBois Rifle & Pistol Club
7. Ziva Swick of Pennsylvania, Palmyra Junior Rifle Team
8. Alison Sutherlin of Montana, Gallatin Valley Sharpshooters
9. Rhiannon Moore of New Mexico, Eldorado MCJROTC
10. Haley Wheeles of Alabama, Robertsdale HS NJROTC
11. Logan Michael of California, Lincoln Rifle Club
12. Logan Sanchez of Colorado, American Legion Post 109
13. Samuel Adkins of Pennsylvania, Palmyra Junior Rifle Team
14. Makenzie Larson of Colorado, American Legion Post 109
15. Josephine Eichmann of South Dakota, Dakota Sharpshooters
The top 15 sporter shooters are:
1. Zoe Dissing of South Dakota, Humboldt Sharpshooters
2. Alexandra Orr of Virginia, Lafayette Gun Club
3. Elyssa Vazquez of Florida, Mariner HS AJROTC
4. Eryka Vazquez of Florida, Mariner HS AJROTC
5. Faith Clevenger of Virginia, American Legion Post 290
6. Samantha Erick of Virginia, Trigger Time
7. Sydney Beringer of Tennessee, Clarkrange HS
8. Kaitlynn Burrell of South Carolina, Walhalla HS Rifle Team
9. Zachary Higgins of Tennessee, Daniel Boone MCJROTC
10. Brooklyn Zeigler of Tennessee, Daniel Boone MCJROTC
11. Mackenzie Cole of Tennessee, Daniel Boone MCJROTC
12. Liam Conklin of Maryland, Annapolis HS NJROTC
13. Clay Crawford of South Dakota, Marshall County Sharpshooters
14. Elaine Saint of South Carolina, Walhalla HS Rifle Team
15. Tyler Dennard of Florida, Mariner HS AJROTC