1997 FSSA Junior Smallbore Rifle |  |
1997 FSSA Junior Smallbore Rifle | |
1997 marked the fourth year that the FSSA supported a State Junior Smallbore Rifle team at the National Matches. Although the National Championships only last 1-1/2 weeks, the team started preparing almost 12 months prior. Through hard work, dedication, and committment (i.e., practice, practice, and practice) they honed their skills for the "World Series" of shooting. Whether they were "just" practicing, shooting in a small club match, or competing in one of the Team Selection matches, they gave it their all, emphasizing that single shot, making each shot their very best. At the beginning of June, when the team applications were processed, their hard work paid off. Four Juniors made the team, Danielle Langfield (Maitland, Central FL R&PC), John Dunning (Orlando, Central FL R&PC), Brent Sproc (Titusville, Titusville JRC), and Melissa Evans (Royal Palm Beach, Everglade R&P Club). That was only the beginning.
After an additional month and a half of practice and a grueling two day drive to Northern Ohio, the team regrouped in the luxurious WWII prisoner of war huts at Camp Perry. The first three days of shooting compose the Smallbore Rifle Outdoor 3-Position National Championships; each competitor fires 120 record shots per day from each of the prone, kneeling, and standing positions. The first two days are the Individual matches with the third day being the Team matches. The Smallbore Rifle Prone National Championships are fired the remaining five days; each competitor fires 160 record shots per day at 50 yards, 50 meters, and 100 yards. The first two and last two days are the Individual matches with the third day being the Team matches.
The Florida Jr. Team did very well against some tough competition. When the dust cleared, every team member placed in at least one match. John Dunning proved that all the prone matches he attended throughout the year really paid off; John won a large number of the prone matches, won first Intermediate Junior Expert, third Intermediate Junior, and third Expert in the National Prone Championships.
With the matches over and the cold Lake Erie breese now blowing across the ranges at Perry, the Florida Juniors are now back in their tropical paradise, skirting to the range every chance they get, preparing for next years National Championships.
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| The Florida State Junior Team left to right, John Dunning, Melissa Evans, Danielle Langfield, Brent Sproc, and (coach) Eric Gestl |
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