Eagles Soar to National Championships

Date: February 20, 2003

Largest Ohio contingent to date

In the sport of rifle, the national governing body responsible for identifying, selecting and training current and future Olympic hopeful's is USA Shooting. Based at the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs, the staff of USA Shooting sponsors selection matches to be held across the United States. One category of selection matches is for junior athletes up to the age of 20. From all the selection matches held across the US, the USA shooting staff will choose the best of the best and invite them to come to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado for the Junior Olympic National Championship Rifle Match. This match will allow the USA shooting staff and the USA Olympic rifle coach, to observe and identify potential Olympians.

USA Shooting has finished evaluating this years sectional results and has issued invitations to this very exclusive and prestigious match. In the best year ever for Ohio junior shooting athletes, a total of 7 invitations have been issued to Ohio juniors. The following juniors have been invited to the USA Shooting Junior Olympic National Championships.

Angie Engle - A Randolph Ohio resident who is currently a student at The University of Akron. She shoots for the University rifle team, and is a member of the Ashland Eagles junior rifle club. This will be Angie's 4th trip to the OTC.
Chad Sorge - A Medina Ohio resident and is and is a member of the Ashland Eagles junior rifle club. This will be Chad's 2nd trip to the OTC.
April Engle - A Randolph Ohio resident who is a member of the Ashland Eagles junior rifle club. This will be April's 2nd trip to the OTC.
Laura Kuntz - A Columbiana Ohio resident who is a member of the Vienna Cougars junior rifle club. This will be Laura's 2nd trip to the OTC.
Charlie Ressel - A Medina Ohio resident who is a member of the Ashland Eagles junior rifle club. This will be Charlie's 1st trip to the OTC.
Ashley Jackson - A Cuyahoga Falls resident who is a member of the Ashland Eagles junior rifle club. This will be Ashley's 1st trip to the OTC.
Sarah Kramer - A student at The University of Akron and shoots for the University rifle team. This will be Sarah's 1st trip to the OTC.

Most all athletes dream of being invited to the Olympic Training Center to meet and train side by side with Olympic athletes. The above seven athletes have achieved the pinnacle of performance required to provide the opportunity to live the dream. For the juniors who are returning to the OTC they will have a chance to rekindle prior relationships as well as improve upon the skills which earned them the right to make this trip. The first time participants will be introduced to a level of competition which can not be found elsewhere. A huge debt of thanks is due to the club coaches and to the athlete's parents and friends who have made large sacrifices to provide these juniors the opportunity to compete at this level.

All these athletes will continue vigorous training so they will be in peak condition for the match at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado. The USA Shooting Junior Olympic National Championships will take place on April 4-9 for the women's events, and April 9-15 for the men's events.