For the second year in a row the Magic City Gun Club Kats have qualified two teams for the National Civilian Marksmanship Program and the Junior Olympic 3 Position Competitions in Camp Perry, Ohio which will be held June 24-26.  Competitions will be held at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. 

Team one made up of Ryan McAndrews (18) of Remlap, Jordan Blankenship (17) of Trussville, Lacey Mcwhorter (18) of Springville and Tommy Loring (16) of Gardendale placed 2nd in the Southeast Regionals and are currently placed 3rd in the Nation.  The team also received a $1200 check from the Civilian Marksmanship Program.  The MCGC Kats are coached by Perry Mitchell and Don Trawick.  

The Western Regionals were held the first weekend in April in Sandy Utah.  The Northeast and Southeast regionals were held the second weekend of April at the two CMP competition centers in Camp Perry, Ohio and Anniston, Alabama. Regional competitions took place over a two day period. Each day shooters competed in a 60 shot (600 point) three position competition consisting of the prone, standing and kneeling positions.  Over the two day period in Anniston, MCGC team one scored a 4634 with 274 x’s which was only 12 points behind the leaders the Ole Mill Rangers of Georgia who shot a 4646 with 274 x’s. The third place team in the Southeast Region was the Shelby County Shooting Sports Association team one scoring a 4600 with 257 x’s. The only team to top the Ole Mill Rangers and the MCGC Kats in the nation was the Dubois Junior Rifle team who shot a 4654 with 273 x’s at the Northeast Regionals.

Team One team members Ryan McAndrews and Lacey McWhorter shot high enough both days to qualify for the finals award competition.  Competitors shoot another ten shot timed per shot match.  Final scores are added to match scores to determine overall winners. McAndrews finished second overall and 7th in the nation in the two day competition with a 1172 and 17 x’s in regular competition and a 1273 with 86 x’s when combined with finals to earn a $400 scholarship award.  McWhorter had  a competition score of 1160 and 75 x’s and a final score of 1257 with 78 x’s placing her in 7th place overall in the Southeast region.

The MCGC second team also qualified for the CMP National and Junior Olympic 3 Position Competitions.  Team members Clark McWhorter (15) of Springville, Garrett Boggan (15) of Leeds, Cady Thomas (14) of Jasper, Rhett Wingard (14) of Pawnee and alternate Gabriel Bianca (14) of Leeds.  The team shot a two day total of 4539 and 198 x’s to place them 7th in the Southeast Region and 18 in the nation.

Both teams are sponsored by the Jefferson County 4H, Magic City Gun Club and the American Legion Post 255.  The teams practice air rifle at the Parks and Recreation gym in Trussville and Smallbore at the Magic City Gun Club in Pinson.  To be a member of the MCGC Kats shooters must have completed a 10-week Basic Rifle Safety course and be between the ages 12 and 18. For more information contact Perry Mitchell at perry.mitchell@att.net.