Junior Eli Graff Leads Field of Competitors at CMP’s 2026 Warm-Up Matches
July 2, 2026
CAMP PERRY, Ohio – Eli Graff, 16, of Cincinnati, OH, dominated the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) June lineup of Warm-Up Matches, meant as a precursor to the National Rifle Matches set to fire in July and August.
CMP’s Warm-Up events, held June 26-28, at Camp Perry in Ohio – the home of the annual National Matches since 1907 – featured two days of rifle 800 Aggregate matches and two days of Mid-Range matches, all fired on CMP’s own outdoor electronic targets. The schedule also included 30-Shot and Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) 50-Shot events, with over 220 participants on the range throughout the weekend.
Graff led both Day 1 and Day of 800 Aggregates to carry him to the top spot in the culminating 1600 Aggregate competition in the Service Rifle Category, with an overall score of 1580-63X (a near 15-point gap over the next highest competitor). He was also the High Junior, with Rylee Greer, 19, of Goshen, OH, marking the second highest junior score of 1546-36X and 13th place overall.
Joseph Hendricks, 58, of Wexford, PA, led Day 1 of the Match Rifle portion of the 1600 Aggregate before falling to Fritz Hempelmann, 66, of Wheeling, WV, on Day 2. Hendricks ended with the overall 1600 win with a score of 1541-41X.
Having earned a Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 2025, Graff went on to earn the overall win in the 30-Shot Rifle Match with a score of 296-15X. He was also second in the EIC 50-Shot Match, trailing Randall Olds, 43, of Thornville, OH, who fired a score of 493-14X for the win.
Olds also led the Service Rifle portion of the Mid-Range competition with score of 1196-65X, as Roy Mitchell, 55, of Parma, OH, earned an impressive score of 1198-81X for the Match Rifle title.
Other leading competitors of the Mid-Range Match:
- Palma: Hanne Brantner, 56, Petersburg, MI – 1199-74X
- F-Class: Terry Finney, 68, Stillwater, NY – 1200-62X
On June 27, the CMP also hosted a Garand/Springfield/Modern Military/Vintage Military (GSMM) Match on the electronic targets of Camp Perry’s Petrarca Range.
Jeffrey Knop, 66, of Brighton, MI, claimed wins in both the Springfield and Vintage Military match courses, while James Wolfe, 59, of Bowmansville, NY, earned the Vintage Military win. Kent Siebern, 46, of Angola, IN, led the Garand Match by only a two-point margin, with a score of 274-2X.
Top competitors of CMP’s Warm-Up Matches were also treated to gift cards from popular local restaurants and other establishments.
Although competition at Camp Perry (settled along the shore of Lake Erie in Port Clinton) is sometimes extended by cease-fires each time a boat enters into the impact area behind the ranges, this year’s Warm-Up matches were largely spared. Participants were able to enjoy quicker match completions each day and, accordingly, more time with fellow competitors outside of competition.
“We were very fortunate that this year we had very few boat delays, and the ones we had were very short,” said Brian Williams, CMP’s Highpower Manager. “Compared to last year, the weather was pleasant, and we’re now anticipating the fun lineup of matches at this year’s National Rifle Matches in just a few weeks.”
See the full list of Warm-Up Matches results at https://ct.thecmp.org/CPWarmUp2026Results.
View GSMM results at https://ct.thecmp.org/CPJuneGSMM26Results.
THE NATIONAL RIFLE MATCHES ARE ALMOST HERE! The 2026 National Rifle Matches will be held July 21 through Aug. 9, featuring an assortment of highpower, vintage and long-range rifle opportunities for all experience levels. The calendar also includes several educational events for adults and juniors hoping to enhance their skills. Learn more and register today at https://thecmp.org/cmp-matches/national-trophy-rifle-matches/!