The 2025 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championships were held at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio, from July 20-29. Kicking off with the Conventional Prone Championship and culminating in the awarding of the Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy after Three-Position, the week was packed with elite-level smallbore competition.
New for 2025, the NRA National Rifle and Pistol Championships took place at different ranges across the country. The Cardinal Shooting Center hosted both the NRA Precision Pistol and Smallbore Rifle Nationals for the first time this summer, marking a significant milestone for the facility.
PRONE CHAMPIONSHIP
This year’s National Smallbore Rifle Conventional Prone Championship was held July 20-25, serving as NRA’s smallbore debut at the Cardinal Shooting Center. Deena Wigger McDorman topped the leaderboard with a dominant 6397-531X performance. Besides winning the Prone grand aggregate, she also earned the Metallic Sight Championship title with 3199-272X. In Any Sights, she finished with 3198-259X.
McDorman’s Prone grand aggregate score of 6397-531X was two points higher than the mark posted by 2024 champion Nick Mowrer, who won last year’s title with a 6395-550X performance. For her victory, McDorman received a $1,000 prize and a Critchfield Trophy plaque, an honor awarded each year to the NRA Smallbore Rifle Conventional Prone Champion.
Taking second place in the grand aggregate was Nick Mowrer, who posted a score of 6395-541X. In third place was Virginia McLemore, who was four points behind Mowrer with 6391-493X.
The team title was awarded to “Black Hawk Chiefs” with a combined score of 3193-225X. Team members were Michael Carter, Virginia McLemore, Robert Head and Cameron Zwart. “Black Hawk TBNL” had to settle for runner-up, with team members Shawn Carpenter, Wesley Shumaker, Howard Pitts and Michael O’Connor’s combined scores giving a total of 3192-220X.
There was a total of 30 shooters competing in this year’s Conventional Prone grand aggregate.
THREE-POSITION CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2025 NRA Smallbore Three-Position Championship ran from July 26-29 following the Prone Championship at the Cardinal Center. Michael O’Connor emerged as the top competitor, winning the Three-Position aggregate with a score of 2352-126X. In addition to a Frank Parsons Memorial Trophy plaque, O’Connor also received a commemorative Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun, a Walther P99 handgun and a $1,000 cash prize.
This year’s Three-Position Championship runner-up was Cameron Zwart with 2330-116X. In third place was Denise Loring, who fired a score of 2325-100X. Finally, Ruby Harris was the top shooter in the Junior category with a fine score of 2292-76X.
On the team side, “Black Hawk Hot & Humid,” with team members Denise Loring and Cameron Zwart, came out on top with a final score of 2312-99X. In second place was “Black Hawk Double J’s” with team members Joseph Graf and Jeffrey Doerschler posting a score of 2301-98X.
Fifteen shooters made their way to the Cardinal Shooting Center to compete in the 2025 NRA National Smallbore Rifle Three-Position Championship.
NRA LONES WIGGER IRON MAN TROPHY
Michael O’Connor’s dominant run at the NRA Smallbore Nationals didn’t end with the Three-Position title. He also claimed the 2025 NRA Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy, awarded for the highest combined score across both Smallbore Rifle national championships. His grand aggregate of 8734-564X put him ahead of runner-up Cameron Zwart, who walked away with a score of 8711-595X, and third-place finisher Joseph Graf with 8681-505X. Zwart, notably, was the 2023 NRA Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy winner at Camp Atterbury, Indiana.
While O’Connor’s score gave him this year’s title, it should be noted that he was 54 points behind the score posted by last year’s Iron Man winner, Sarah Beard. (Expect to read more about Beard and her fantastic performance at the 2025 Field Marshal Earl Lord Roberts Trophy Match in an upcoming match report in the digital magazine.)
A total of nine dedicated shooters fired for the duration of the 2025 NRA Smallbore Nationals vying for the Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy. In addition to the trio of O’Connor, Zwart and Graf, fourth through ninth places included Denise Loring, Wesley Shumaker, James Eu, Matthew Sharp, Jennifer Ingram and Man Hoi Tang.
F-CLASS
The NRA Smallbore F-Class Championship also brought high-level competition to Cardinal Shooting Center this summer. Samuel Pagliari successfully defended his F-Class national title this year in Ohio, securing the title with a final score of 6370-493X. Although he was down five points from his 2024 score of 6375-501X, Pagliari won the Marianne Jensen Driver Memorial Trophy once again.
Taking second place was Thomas Hittle with 6364-473X, followed by Daniel Pagliari in third with 6363-445X.
As for High Woman in F-Class this year, the honor went to Michelle Medige, who posted a score of 6321-381X.
SMALLBORE STAFF SHINES
The 2025 NRA National Smallbore Championships featured an experienced and highly motivated team of staffers.
Two NRA Directors and veteran staff members, Patti Clark and Edie Fleeman, served as chief referee and chief scoring officer, respectively. Joe Miller was the match director, with the Cardinal Center’s Brian Newsom overseeing range operations as range engineer. Mary Furr managed scoring data as statistical director, while her husband, Clyde Furr, took on the role of chief range officer.
With such seasoned leadership across all key positions, the championship ran smoothly and many competitors praised their hard work, as well as the excellent new venue in the Cardinal Shooting Center.
Thanks to the support of individual donors, the Black Hawk Rifle Club and other generous contributors, the NRA National Smallbore Rifle Championships proudly uphold the tradition of marksmanship excellence in American shooting sports.
Learn more at competitions.nra.org.
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