Gratz Finishes On Top At National Smallbore Rifle Conventional Position Championship

by
posted on July 22, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
sbr-position-lead.jpg
The 2018 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championships, and the marathon to win the coveted Lones Wigger Trophy and title of “Ironman,” began with the Conventional Position Championship at the Wa-Ke'-De Rifle Range in Bristol, IN.

Wa-Ke'-De Rifle Range
Wa-Ke'-De Rifle Range

Daniel Martz, of Columbia, MO, won the prone stage of the Metallic Sight Championship with a 400-38X, the best of the 13 perfect score posted. West Virginia University’s Elizabeth Gratz took the standing match, shooting a 394-17X. The final match of the day, kneeling, went to Marksman Jaden Thompson who posted a 398-23X—giving him an aggregate score of 1190-74X for the metallic sight championship and the William Krilling Trophy. It was quite an achievement as he outshot two Master class shooters for the win: Gratz, 1190-73X, and William Marciniak, 1190-66X. Thompson also picked up high civilian and intermediate junior laurels.

2018 Whistler Boy
Gratz (left, sitting) coaching during the 2018 Whistler Boy match. Not long after this photo was taken there was a tornado warning

Mandy Otero was presented the Meister Trophy as senior champion, Mike O’Connor was the top intermediate senior, and Marciniak was collegiate champion. The George Alves Trophy went to junior shooter Richard Clark of Jackson, MI, while Katrina DeMerle was top sub junior.

Day two of the championship was any sights and Megan Hilbish of Emporia, KS, posted a 400-37X prone for the win in the first match. She continued, with a full head of steam, to win standing with a 397-24X on a tie breaker with Gratz who tied in integer score but only mustered 16 Xs. Clark broke Hilbish’s stranglehold on any sight wins when he shot a 397-24X to win kneeling. Having quietly been below the radar all day, a consistent performance by Gratz saw her win the any sight and civilian titles with an 1193-68X, besting Clark, 1189-80X, who was also was high junior, and Lisette Grunwell Lacy, 1188-77X.

2018 NRA Smallbore 3-P Championship | Kneeling
Kneeling at the 3-Position Nationals

Otero, Marciniak, and DeMerle repeated as senior, collegiate, and sub junior winners. Paula Lambertz of Streamwood, IL, was the intermediate senior title winner. Thompson grabbed the intermediate junior win.

Gratz, with a score of 2383-141X, emerged as the conventional position and civilian champion. Thomson and Marciniak were locked at 2378 but Thompson had 142X, two more than Marciniak who earned the aggregate collegiate win.

Otero, O’Connor, Clark, Thompson, and DeMerle held on to category wins in senior, intermediate senior, junior, intermediate junior, and sub junior competition.

2018 NRA Conventional 3-Position Grand Aggregate Leaderboard

  1. National Champion     Elizabeth Gratz, 2382-141X
  2. Second Place              Jaden Thompson, 2378-141X
  3. Third Place                 William Marcinak, 2378-140X
  4. Fourth Place                Richard Clark, 2375-150X
  5. Fifth Place                   Lisette Grunwell-Lacey, 2371-144X
  6. Sixth Place                  Malori Brown, 2368-121X
  7. Seventh Place              Megan Hilbish, 2364-130X
  8. Eighth Place                Daniel Martz, 2360-139X
  9. Ninth Place                 Rachel Engels, 2356-114X
  10. Tenth Place                 Martina Gratz, 2353-104X


Day three of the National Smallbore Championships will mark the start of the National Metric Smallbore Rifle Position Championship. For the latest match coverage, check back with SSUSA often. For the most up to date results, please visit competitor.nra.org/ChampionshipResultsSmallbore.aspx

Latest

2025 Ironman Silh 1
2025 Ironman Silh 1

Winstead-Severin Outlasts Field To Win 2025 Iron Man Silhouette Championship In Montana

Cathy Winstead-Severin clinches 2025 Iron Man Silhouette Regional Championship in Missoula, Montana, showcasing elite endurance and precision over two grueling days of competition.

A New Generation Rises At Close Of 1970s: 1979 National Matches

New champions emerge as legends endure in a defining year at Camp Perry.

NRA America’s Rifle Challenge Takes Center Stage On Shooting USA

Shooting USA heads to Camp Atterbury for a deep dive into the NRA’s latest action shooting format, designed for both new and seasoned AR-15 competitors.

Springfield Armory 1911 AOS Series Showdown

Springfield Armory’s modern 1911s—TRP AOS, Ronin AOS and Operator AOS—go head-to-head in a 1911 AOS series showdown.

Legends: J.B. Hodgdon 1936-2025

Shooting sports icon and Kansas native J.B. Hodgdon leaves behind a legacy of innovation, service and outdoor passion.

Brandon Powell Goes Back-to-Back At 2025 NSCA Northeast Regional

Team Remington sporting clays star defends title with dominant performance in Marengo, Ohio, in June.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.