Georgia Military College Bulldog Rifle Team traveled to Murray State University in Kentucky and the University of Tennessee Martin over the weekend. The ten hour trip took the shooters and coaches over the mountain into the landscape of deeper snow and ice. While it was a beautiful wonderland to see, the team was focused on shooting in two different matches and having a blast with all the snowball fights.
The first match, The Withrow Open, presented GMC's Rifle Bulldogs the opportunity to compete against the many NCAA team entered and individual shooters from Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama. Rifle teams in the NCAA that were competing were The University of Kentucky, Murray State, Jacksonville State, Memphis University, University of Tennessee Martin, University of North Georgia, University of Alabama Birmingham and University of Tennessee Martin Women. There were thirty three NCAA shooters and twenty eight individual shooters in the competition.
The University of Kentucky took first place with a team score of 4696 in the two guns, small bore and air rifle. Murray State took second with a score of 4685, while Jacksonville State was third with 4648.
Georgia Military College shooters were represented by Cadet Jeffrey Glass with a 457 in small bore and a 522 in air rifle for a 979 total score. Cadet Aaron Hill had a 506 in small bore and a 535 in air rifle for a 1041. Cadet Frank Davis had a 515 in small bore and a 529 in air rifle for a 1044. Cadet Brick Nelson shot a 460 in small bore and a 492 in air rifle for a total of 952. Cadet Matthew Futch shot a 446 in small bore and a 497 in air rifle for a combined score of 943. The top four scores were combined for the team total of 1938 in small bore and a 2083 in air rifle. Many of the individual shooters competing have had numerous years shooting both guns and shot very respectable scores.
The next day the team was up at five in the morning and traveled to the University of Tennessee Martin to compete at their range. Georgia Military College Bulldogs had a team score of 1888 in small bore and a team score of 2067 in air rifle. Cadet Frank Davis led the team with a small bore score of 523 and air rifle with a 535. Cadet Aaron Hill had second with a 473 in small bore and a 528 in air rifle. Cadet Brick Nelson shot a 453 in small bore and a 475 in air rifle. Cadet Jeffrey Glass had a 439 in small bore and a 520 in air rifle. Cadet Matthew Futch shot a 432 in small bore and a 484 in air rifle.
The shooters came back to their campus with the determination and to focus on competing the weekend of January 27, 2018 for the National Rifle Association Qualifications for Nationals. The competition will be held at the University of North Georgia with individual shooters, Clemson University and Georgia Military College. This has been a tough few weeks for the shooters preparing for all the competitions in 2018, stated Mary Ellen Eaton, but the shooters are practicing and willing to continue representing GMC to the best of their abilities. I couldn't be prouder for these cadets!