Hillsdale College Hosts USA Shooting Junior Olympic Rifle National Championship For Second Consecutive Year

At the 2022 USA Shooting Junior Olympic Rifle National Championship from May 11-15, Hillsdale College hosted more than 400 Junior Olympic rifle shooters at the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center on its campus in Hillsdale, Michigan.

Shooters ages 12-20 competed in two shooting events, with top scorers earning spots on the USA Shooting Junior National Rifle team. The two events: 50-foot smallbore in the kneeling, prone and standing positions, along with 10-meter air rifle, this time only in standing position.

 

The championship is among the largest annual international-style competitions in the country for junior shooters (under-21), with some going on to represent the United States in World Cup, World Championship, Olympic and Paralympic events.

Several junior athletes with physical limitations competed in Paralympic categories, using special equipment to shoot modified versions of standing and prone air rifle matches.

In addition, junior competitors were housed on the Hillsdale College campus and were treated to tours.

 

2022 USA Shooting Junior Olympic Rifle National Championship Leaderboard

Men’s Junior Olympic Smallbore Rifle

1. Matt Sanchez 458.3
2. Derek Keiser 456.4
3. Rylan Kissell 447.0

Women’s Junior Olympic Smallbore Rifle

1. Cecelia Ossi 454.7
2. Lauren Hurley 454.2
3. Natalie Perrin 443.5

Men’s Junior Olympic Air Rifle

1. Scott Rockett 251.5
2. Gavin Perkowski 248.7
3. Rylan Kissell 225.0

Women’s Junior Olympic Air Rifle

1. Kristen Derting 249.7
2. Lauren Hurley 246.9
3. Clarissa Layland 226.7

(Finals scores listed)

“Hillsdale College was proud to host the USA Shooting Junior Olympic Rifle National Championship for the second year in a row,” said Andrew Traciak, Hillsdale College rifle and pistol coach. “These athletes are the future of international rifle competition in the United States. Most are also prospective college students, and we hope to see many return to Hillsdale College in that capacity as both student-athletes in our rifle program and future leaders in their chosen academic fields of study.”

See the full results of the 2022 USA Shooting Junior Olympic Rifle National Championship here. Learn more about USA Shooting at usashooting.org. Find out more about Hillsdale College at hillsdale.edu.