The Georgia Military College Rifle Team was on the road Saturday to compete in the Georgia State Collegiate Rifle Championship at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. The Bulldogs, led by freshman Thomas Shepard (Woodbine, Georgia), shot to a sixth-place finish in Air Rifle with a 577 and 550 in the small-bore rifle.

The Georgia State Collegiate Rifle Championship was the first competition for the Bulldogs. They performed well, finishing third with a 4160- aggregate score. Shepard's result was no surprise; he has been shooting well in practice and is in a position for future excellence. The rest of the team did exceptional, giving the Bulldogs an impressive combined team score of 2170 in Air Rifle. The Bulldogs consist of freshman Banysia Cody (Woodbine, Georgia), 556 Chrisman Harrison (Woodbine, Georgia), 541, Nathan Corr (Boyceville, Wisconsin), 496, and Norberto Nieves (Rockledge, Florida) 478. A team consists of five team members, and the top four scores of the group count as an aggregate team score. Coach Duane Clayton commented, "We are confident we will continue to progress as the season continues, and we continue to work as a team." The University of North Georgia won the Air Rifle Championship by one point, with 2311 over Georgia Southern University. Georgia Southern University won the small-bore competition with 2266 over the University of North Georgia, who scored 2237 and won the overall championship with a 4576 aggregate score. The second was the University of North Georgia with a 4548. Georgia Military College was third with a between the two rifles.

The Bulldogs are off to a great start and are excited to head into the Western Intercollegiate Rifle Conference season.