Gulfport MCJROTC Wins Second Straight Orion National Air Rifle League's Sporter Championship.
Gulfport MCJROTC edges out Zion Benton NJROTC, by a single tie breaker point, to win the Orion National Air Rifle League Sporter Championship. Both teams scored 1098 points. By rule, the tie was settled by highest number of "inner tens." Gulfport MCJROTC won the tie 35 to 34.
This was Gulfport MCJROTC's second straight Sporter Championship. In 2015 they won the championship by defeating Ozark AJROTC. In two years of league play they remain the only undefeated sporter team, amassing an impressive 22-0 record.
During the regular season both Gulfport and Zion Benton won their respective divisions. Gulfport won the Marine Corps JROTC Champions Division and Zion Benton won the Navy Champions Division. Each with a perfect 7 - 0 record. Based on their seasonal average these two teams were seeded 2 and 1 respectively.
Gulfport made it to the championship game after defeating Clover AFJROTC 1101 to 1057, and Lebanon AJROTC 1092 to 1079. Zion Benton made it to the championship game by defeating Humboldt Sharpshooters 1089 to 1017, and Fountain Fort Carson AJROTC 1104 to 1087.
In the championship game Gulfport MCJROTC was led by MVP Gabrielle Phelps and Mackayla Bourgeois, each shooting a 279. Taylor Saulters added a 273 and Rebecca Cook shot a 267. Gulfport MCJROTC is from Gulfport, MS, and is coached by LtCol John Owens.
Zion Benton NJROTC was led by Jaycie Hoenig who shot an impressive 281. The remaining contributing members were Hailey Smith, Elena Aparicio, Cole Rice, and Regina Raquino. Zion Benton NJROTC is from Zion, IL, and is coached by Dan Hackstein.
Gabrielle Phelps wins the league's Most Valuable Player award. She lead Gulfport MCJROTC in all three post-season games. In the quarter final game she shot a 281, the semi-finals a 284, and a 279 in the championship game.
The post-season tournament is for the top eight teams in the National Air Rifle Sporter League. Sponsored by the Orion Scoring System, the league is a national team league for high school teams and junior rifle clubs. The league has two parts. An 8 week round-robin regular season that concluded in November. Followed by the single-elimination tournament for the top eight teams who competed for the league championship.
In each game the teams compete in what is known as a Three-Position Air Rifle match. The match is modeled after Olympic Rifle competitions but adapted to high school age athletes. Each athlete will shoots 10 shots in three different shooting positions, prone, standing, and kneeling. Each shot is worth a maximum of 10 points. The sum of points scored in the 30 shots is the athlete's total. The team score is comprised of the best four athletes from each team.
Box Score: http://www.orionresults.com/team/GamePage.aspx?MatchID=1.1.704609911.1
12 - 18 Dec 2016