Hosted by the Citadel, the Southeastern Air Rifle Championship Match, consisting only of an air rifle competition, was held this past weekend at the Inouye Marksmanship Center in Charleston, S.C. It was the final match of the season for the following colleges; Citadel, Clemson University, Georgia Southern University, North Carolina State University, Wofford, University of Alabama- Birmingham, University of North Georgia and Georgia Military College. There were sixty seven shooters in the competition. North Carolina State was the winner with the University of North Georgia taking second and Georgia Southern third.
Liliana Reyes led the GMC Bulldog Rifle Team with her excellent score of 559, followed by Cadet Johnny Nguyen with a personal best of 550. Cadet Donald Preston shot a 540 and fourth teammate Cadet Sarah Conners shot a 535. Other GMC shooters were Rifle Captain Cadet Destin Owens with a 545, Cadet Taylor Thornton with a 545, Sarah Bean with a 518 and Cadet Drae Robinson with a 517.
The GMC rifle team members and all athletes were honored that evening at a awards banquet located at the Citadel Ballroom Football Stadium. Cadet Taylor Thornton was awarded a trophy for Most Improved Shooter for SEARC this season. He had an average of 5160-5446(28.6). Georgia Military College Rifle Team won Most Improved Team for the third time in SEARC competition, average of 2169.2-2186.3(17.1) GMC was also awarded Top Score Record for the second year in a row and now holds the record forever in The Southeastern Air Rifle Conference as the NCAA Teams move into The Southern Conference. The NCAA Division 1 Conference is adding rifle as its 21st championship sport for the rifle season 2016-2017.
Georgia Military College Rifle shooters are now preparing for The National Rifle Association Nationals at the Pool Range at Ft. Benning, Georgia on March 18-19, 2016. The match is opened to the public.