Rifle team to nationals

Walla Walla High School JROTC Rifle Teams post strong performances at national events
Walla Walla High School’s JROTC Rifle Teams traveled to Camp Perry, Ohio last weekend for the Army JROTC Regional Rifle Championship to compete against 234 shooters from across the northern region of the country. The event was held at the Gary Anderson National Shooting Complex for the two day match that pitted the top shooters from each service against each other vying for honors and an invitation to the All Service JROTC National Championship in March.

Walla Walla swept the precision category in the competition, taking the three top spots individually, as well as the first place team trophy. The precision team of Cadet Major Nathan Brewer, Cadet First Sergeant Sabrina Keenan, Cadet Sergeant Daniel Enger, Cadet Sergeant Justin Mebes and Cadet Staff Sergeant Danielle DeSalvo topped the next closest precision team by 33 points with a two day total of 4653 out of 4800.

“We had our entire scoring team make the final,” said Wa-Hi Rifle Coach Mark Mebes. “Four out of the top six spots were Walla Walla shooters.”

In the Sporter Class competition, Wa-Hi’s team, including Cadet Sergeant Benjamin Thompson, Cadet Staff Sergeant Madeline Erikson, Cadet PFC Amelia Schwartzkopf and Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Mattie Bialozor, battled for placement in a tight match that left them a single point out of 3rd place at the end of the second day.

Walla Walla High School’s precision team’s placement in the match earned them an invitation to the All Service JROTC National Championship, in Camp Perry, Ohio next month. Mebes reported this is Wa-Hi’s 3rd JROTC Regional Championship victory in the last four years and will be their 4th consecutive appearance at the JROTC National Championships.