Kootenai Valley Junior Rifle Club places fifth in the nation

After months of waiting the results are in — and the Kootenai Valley Rifle Club team is fifth in the nation.

In spring 2023, Kootenai Valley Rifle Club members shot in the NRA sectional rifle match at their home range, joined by teams from Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene. They competed with .22 caliber rifles, single shot, at a distance of 50 feet indoors. A sectional match is one in which a shooter obtains their national ranking. Matches are held across the United States, the scores are sent into the NRA then combined with others to see how everyone did.

The first match was a four-position team match, shooting 10 shots in each of the prone, sitting, kneeling and standing positions, the team of Ellie Rutherford, Megg Kahanek, Salix Harris and Kyalynn Comer would combine their scores to place fifth in the nation, in the junior category (18-20 years old), with a final of 1533. The second team that represented KVRC was open to any age group. Greg Mead, Bill Leach, Don Jordan and Rutherford shot a total of 1553 to win first place in the master category.

The team match was a combination of their individual scores. Shooting in the junior category Rutherford placed seventh of 44 shooters nationwide, with a score of 389 out of 400 possible. Kahanek was close behind with a score of 386 and placed ninth. The intermediate junior (15-17 years old) was represented locally by Salix Harris with a score of 381 and placing 25th of 141 shooters, Paige Sartell scored 369 and 47th with Ilena Wenzel shooting a 342 and taking 88th place. Kyalynn Comer was the lone sub-junior (14 years old and under) and placed fifth out of 73 shooters with a score of 377. She will receive a bronze medal from the NRA for her accomplishments.

Most of the second team also shot as individuals, shooting 20 shots in each position, Greg Mead was Senior Champion (over 60 years old) for his second time with a score of 779 out of 800 possible. Bill Leach was 2 points behind with a 777 and placed 3rd in the Senior class and Don Jordan was 7th. Megg Kahanek was 18th out of the 28 women shooters participating.

The second match was a three position match. Shooting 40 shots in each of the prone, kneeling and standing positions. The target used in this match is challenging, to score a 10, the shooter must take out a dot not much larger than the period at the end of this sentence.

As individuals, Leach would place first in the senior class, a repeat honor, and sixth overall in the master class. Mead, shooting in the expert class placed eighth, Jordan 11th and Kathy Konek 14th.

The third match was for junior shooters only. They would shoot 20 shots in each of the prone, kneeling and standing positions. As individuals, shooting in the Intermediate class (15-17 years old) there were 149 participants. Harris would tie for 22nd place, with a shooter from Spokane, and Sartell place 67th. The Sub-Junior class (14 and under years old) had 76 members across the nation. Comer would place 13th.

If you are interested in learning more, or returning to, the sport of smallbore shooting, please stop by the indoor range on Highway 2. Senior shooters (21 years old and older) meet on Wednesday nights and the Junior shooters (under 21 years old) meet on Thursdays. Both at 6:30 p.m., starting on Sept. 28. Hope to see you there!

The Kootenai Valley Rifle and Pistol Club is dedicated to the sport of small-bore shooting and invites all interested people to join.

Competitive shooting is a sport of precision. KVRPC practices indoors with .22 caliber rifles and

pistols shooting at a distance of 50 feet. Rifle shooters aim for a 10 ring not much bigger than the period at the end of this sentence.

Pistol shooters at a ring about the size of a dime. Senior rifle shooters, age 21 on up, use a scoped rifle and shoot from prone, sitting, kneeling and standing positions while junior shooters, age 12 to 20, learn Olympic style three-position shooting with peep sights.

The teams compete from their home range on Highway 2, and also travel to Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, Spokane, and Missoula.

Smallbore shooting is an NCAA sport, making college scholarships available. If you aspire to compete in the Olympics, it can all start through the club.

The pistol team meets on Tuesday (starting Oct. 3), the senior rifle team on Wednesday (starting Oct. 5) and the junior rifle team on Thursday (Sept. 28); all at 6:30 p.m.

Anyone who would like to learn more about these sports, is invited to stop by the range located on U.S. 2 three miles east of Three Mile Junction and see what it is all about. Men, women, boys and girls are welcome.

For those who have shot in the past, and have put that equipment away, dust it off and come join us, officials wrote.

"We welcome you back to make some more memories," said Kathy Konek. "Shooting is a sport for a lifetime."

For more information, contact Don at 208-610-0226.