VMI Pistol Club Places 7th in National Championship
The pistol club at 麻豆女演员 Institute finished in 7th place at the National Collegiate Pistol Championship held mid-March in Anniston and Talladega, Alabama.
The VMI contingent consisted of eight shooters including Chris Olsen 鈥25, Chase Boucher 鈥27, Jamie Palacio 鈥27, and Kate Patrick 鈥27, who competed as a four-person team; and Bill Gray 鈥27, Sofia Flemming 鈥28, Andrei Hipol 鈥28, and Tiffany Rock 鈥28 who competed as individuals. The club held a national rank of 10th place going into the competition.
According to head coach Reese McCormick, there are normally three events in the competition: air pistol, sport pistol, and standard pistol. However, due to inclement weather the standard pistol competition was canceled.
鈥淰MI placed 6th in sport pistol and 11th in air pistol with the combined scores putting us in 7th place. This is the highest ranking VMI has ever achieved, and only the second time VMI has held a national ranking in pistol,鈥 he proudly reported.
Boucher, who led the team in scoring and is currently ranked 37th nationally, confessed that his scores shooting as an individual were unexpected. 鈥淚 improved my sport pistol record by nearly 70 points. As a team, I know we all did well.鈥
This was the third and final year for Olsen 鈥 who graduates in May 鈥 to compete with the team. He shared that it has been a privilege working with McCormick.
鈥淲e secured VMI鈥檚 first ever invitation to collegiate nationals in 2022, to being invited each year since. I am extremely proud that this year we managed to achieve a ranking of seventh overall with three top-50 individual placements. For myself, I鈥檓 happy to have achieved two top-50 rankings and holding VMI鈥檚 highest ever individual collegiate rankings for two consecutive years: 2023 and 2024.鈥
Eighteen colleges were represented at the championship, with 93 shooters competing. The Ohio State University was first place winner, followed by the U.S. Naval Academy in second, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in third.
Assisting in coaching the club this year are Robert Coleman, Norman Claytor, and Jan Downs.
Marianne HauseCommunications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
