Fort Smith JROTC Sweeps First Places at Arkansas State Air Rifle Championship

January 31, 2023

Civilian Marksmanship Program▸The First Shot▸Fort Smith JROTC Sweeps First Places at Arkansas State Air Rifle Championship

Submitted by Gary Jobe, CMP Arkansas State Director

Fort Smith Arkansas Northside High School has a lot to be proud of, thanks to their JROTC Rifle Team. The Northside JROTC teams, under the direction and leadership of LTC (R) Thomas Johnson, took high honors at the Arkansas CMP State Championship. The teams swept the competition with first place showings in the sporter class for both individual and teams along with individual and team wins in the precision class.

Some of the best air rifle competitors in Arkansas competed at the 15^th annual Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Three-Position Air Rifle Championship. The event was held at White Hall High School in White Hall, Ark. Over 65 competitors representing teams from JROTC, 4-H, NRA and CMP attended the match.

Top teams and individuals earned the right to advance and compete at the CMP Regional Championship later this year, in addition to winning medals and awards.

SPORTER DIVISION: INDIVIDUAL

1^st Place: Francisca Bermudez-Flores, Ft. Smith Northside High School JROTC – 522

2^nd Place: Caleb Mahan, Madison County Youth Shooting Sports – 513

3^rd Place: Mitchell Elmore, Saline County Youth Shooting Sports – 509

PRECISION DIVISION: INDIVIDUAL

1^st Place: Edith Aquino, Ft. Smith Northside – 554

2^nd Place: Mikayla McCall, Ft. Smith Northside – 553

3^rd Place: Audrene Hays, Ft. Smith Northside – 537

SPORTER DIVISION: TEAMS

1^st Place: Ft. Smith Northside High School JROTC Sporter Team 1 – 1998

Team Members: Francisca Bermudez-Flores, Ariana Mendoza, Aurelio Alcala and Sanskruti Ghanti 

Team Coach: LTC (R) Thomas Johnson

2^nd Place: Saline County Shooting Sports Team Blue – 1931

            Team Members: Mitchell Elmore, Breanna Yates, Noah Dawson and Jake Cox

            Team Coach: Kerry Gilson

3^rd Place: Ft. Smith Northside High School JROTC Sporter Team 2 – 1716

Team Members: Jovany Guzman, Nevaehona Williams, Lucy Buster and Jacqueline Aleman

Team Coach: LTC (R) Thomas Johnson.

PRECISION DIVISION: TEAMS

1^ST Place Team: Ft. Smith Northside High School JROTC Precision – 2179

            Team Members: Edith Aquino, Mikayla McCall, Audrene Hays and Mekel Miller

            Team Coach: LTC (R) Thomas Johnson

2^nd Place Team: Newport High School JROTC Team 1 – 1882

Team Members: Andrei Rodriquez, Jasmine Dalton, Quina Johnson and Matthew George

Team Coach: 1SG Jimmy Johnson

3^rd Place Team: Newport High School JROTC Team 2 – 1650

            Team Members: Blain Shannon, Zane Pry, Audra King and Katie Hanners

            Team Coach: 1SG Jimmy Johnson

The CMP Arkansas State Championship is sponsored locally by the Arkansas Rifle and Pistol Association, Arkansas Gun and Cartridge Collectors Club, Daisy Outdoors, Crosman Outdoors and Pyramyd Air Guns. The American Legion Junior Olympic Three-Position Air Rifle Championship will be held March 11, 2023, in White Hall. For more information on these types of air rifle matches, as well as BB Gun Competitions in Arkansas, contact match director Gary Jobe at arkansascompetitions@gmail.com or (713) 253-7914.