By Kathy Konek
On January 17 and 18, the Kootenai Valley Rifle Club, in Bonners Ferry, hosted the Idaho State Junior Olympic Rifle Championship. Shooters from around the region participated.
The shooters competed with single shot .22 caliber rifles, using iron sights, at a distance of 50 feet indoors. They completed 20 shots in each of the kneeling, prone and standing positions. To score a ten, a shooter must take out a dot which is .76mm or 1/32nd of an inch.
Kyalynn Comer, shooting on her home range, was the top shooter, averaging a score of 8.95 per shot and a total score of 537 of the 600 points possible. She also won the prone and standing positions and was 2nd in kneeling. She is our women Idaho State Champion improving by 20 points over last year.
Taking second was Alora Rasor, of the Sandpoint Rifle Club, averaging a score of 8.8 per shot and a total score of 528. In addition, Rasor won the kneeling position, was second in standing and third in prone. Improving her score by 36 points over last year.
Paige Sartell, also of the Kootenai Valley Rifle Club, was third overall, second in prone and third in standing.
Top male shooter, and the male Idaho State Champion was Curtis Sommerfeld of the Sandpoint Rifle Club. He scored 481.
Participating in his first rifle match, Cooper Byrant, also of the KV Rifle Club, placed third overall in kneeling position. We look forward to seeing his name at the top soon.
Six of the 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 again would come out on top, averaging 9.1 points per shot, with a score of 545 out of 600 possible. Making her the women Idaho State Champion in this discipline. Sommerfeld would also double up on his rewards with a score of 499, second overall and male Champion. Sartell would be close behind scoring a 497 and taking third place.
Comer and Sommerfeld, for winning their perspective disciplines, should receive an invitation to compete at the Junior Olympics, location to be determined, 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 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. See you on the range.
