WaHi's Calvert Competes at Junior Olympic National Championships
Cadet Major Claire Calvert of the Walla Walla High School JROTC Rifle Team received an invitation to one of the most exclusive junior air rifle events in the United States. Hosted by USA Shooting in Anniston, Alabama, the Junior Olympic Air Rifle National Championship is limited to individuals who qualify as champions in sanctioned state matches earlier in the season.
Calvert, a senior, qualified for the match this year in the Washington State Women’s Air Rifle event in January. The national event includes 2 days of shooting 60 record shots, all from the standing unsupported position at a target 10 meters distant. To score a 10, competitors’ shots must touch a pin-hole-sized dot in the center of a target roughly the size of a .50 cent piece. If the 10-ring is hit, the closer the dot is to the center of the shot, the higher the value of the 10, up to a maximum value of 10.9 for a shot that places the dot exactly at the center. In Junior Olympic Nationals, shots are scored by decimal, so a normal 100-point target actually carries a total possible value of 109. Junior class athletes in this event may compete until the age of 21, which leads the event to include many NCAA College shooters.
“Qualifying for this match is a real notch in any high school marksman’s belt.” Said WAHI Rifle Coach Mark Mebes. “Most of the shooters here in Claire’s category are college athletes.”
On the first day of competition, Calvert came off the firing line with a score of 592.3.
On the second day of competition, Calvert improved to 593.7 for a two-day total of 1187 and ultimately a 176th-place finish.
After the match on Sunday, college coaches were allowed to meet with high school seniors as prospective recruits for their NCAA rifle teams. Calvert met with several college coaches and spoke at length with them.
“One of the best things about qualifying for this match is that it puts you in the room with these NCAA coaches,” said Calvert. “You get access to them, and they know you are serious about this sport because you made it here. It’s so much better than sending an email and hoping for a reply.”
Calvert was also able to watch former Walla Walla High School teammate Hannah Goin, now shooting for the NCAA Division I rifle team at Morehead State University. Hannah concluded the match on a 1220.4 for a 106th-place finish.
Calvert returned to Walla Walla to join her team for the CMP Western Regional Rifle Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah.
