KVRC hosts Idaho State Junior Olympic Rifle Championship
Kyalynn Comer is pictured shooting in the air rifle competition at a recent event.
(Photo courtesy RYAN COMER)
On Jan. 20, the Kootenai Valley Rifle Range, in Bonners Ferry, hosted the Idaho State Junior Olympic Rifle Championship. Shooters from the Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, and Coeur d’Alene clubs along with Little Explorers 4H from Boise were represented.
The shooters competed with single-shot .22 caliber rifles, using iron sights, at a distance of 50 feet indoors. They complete 20 shots in each of the kneeling, prone and standing positions. To score a ten, a shooter must take out a dot not much bigger than the period at the end of this sentence.
Daphne Garberoglio of the Coeur d'Alene team, shooting in the 15-17 year-old category, was the Idaho State Champion, averaging a score of 8.6 per shot and a total score of 516 of the 600 points possible.
Close behind in the same age category, taking second overall, was Gabriel Lester, of the Sandpoint Jr. Rifle Club, with a score of 515.
Kyalynn Comer, of the KV team, was top in the under 15 year-old category and third overall with a score of 502. Improving her score by 50 points over last year’s match.
Brianna Poirier, also in the under 15 year-old category, traveling from Boise to represent the Little Explorers 4H Club, would take second place for this group with a score of 464.
Four of the eight shooters would then continue and compete with competition grade air rifles. Again, using iron sights, but at a distance of 33 feet, they would complete 60 shots in the standing position.
Comer would come out on top, averaging 8.85 per shot, with a score of 531 of the 600 possible. Garberoglio, would take second with a 523.
Both Garberoglio and Comer, for winning their perspective disciplines, should receive an invitation to compete at the Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center in April. If they decide to go, they would appreciate the community’s support. Please contact the club for more information.
The teams will finish up their season with matches at the rifle ranges in Bonners Ferry, Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint. If you are interested in learning more about, or returning to, the sport of competitive shooting. Please stop by the range on Wednesday, or Thursday, evening at 6:30 p.m. or contact Don Jordan at 208-610-0226.