Hahn, Whidden Lead 2026 National Smallbore Prone Matches
September 18, 2026
CAMP PERRY, Ohio – Joseph Hahn and John Whidden didn’t share much of the podium during this summer’s 2026 National Smallbore Prone Matches, taking home the 1600 Aggregate, 3200 Aggregate and 6400 Aggregate titles in the Iron Sight and Any Sight divisions, respectively.
The 2026 National Smallbore Prone Matches, facilitated by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), was held July 18-22 as part of the National Matches at Camp Perry – an annual, month-long event held in Ohio since 1907.
Prone events included iron sights and any sights matches as well as F-Class opportunities, held on the electronic targets of Camp Perry’s Petrarca Range. Competitions included both individual and team events for adults and juniors.
Hahn, 23, of Middle Grove, NY, claimed the overall win in the 6400 Open Championship with a score of 6,383-463X – six points over second place finisher Nick Mowrer, 37, of Colorado Springs, CO. Abigail Donovan, 28, of Brockport, NY, found third with a score of 6,373-404X.
On his way to the overall win, Hahn led the 3200 Iron Sight Championship with a score of 3,194-243X, firing the highest 1600 Aggregates on Day 1 and Day 2. He again bested Mowrer in the 3200, this time by only a four-point margin. Brandon Green, 41, of Dallas, TX, followed with a score of 3,187-223X for third.
Additionally, Hahn led the fun Prone Elimination Match, finishing only one point above Ron Wigger, 66, of Colorado Springs, CO.
Likewise, Whidden, 50, of Nashville, GA, nabbed the 3200 Aggregate Championship title in Any Sight after securing both days of 1600 Aggregates, reaching an overall score of 3,192-246X.
Whidden earned the win just three points ahead of Daniel Erpenback, 63, of Aloha, OR, who fired a 3,189-245X for silver, with Hahn falling short in x-count after acquiring a score of 3,189-220X for bronze.
Also earning multiple wins was Samuel Pagliari, 72, of Oil City, PA, who overtook the F-Class Championship title in the 6400 Aggregate with a score of 6,350-416X. It was a commanding win – with second place finisher Bill Treder, 80, of Ball Ground, GA, earning a score of 6,317-375X and third place competitor Doug McNash, 69, of Ellijay, GA, netting 6,314-279X.
Similar to Hahn and Whitten, Pagliari picked up both Aggregate Days on his way to the 3200 Championship win in F-Class, with a complete score of 3,179-210X.
Congratulations also to Dominic Baliva, 18, of Rochester, NY, who was the top junior competitor in the 6400 Aggregate, with a score of 6,347-405X, and Abigail Donovan, 28, of Brockport, NY, who was the high female competitor with 6,373-404X.
Though falling short of the 6400 Aggregate win, Mowrer managed an incredible feat during this year’s National Matches by earning his final points toward a Distinguished Smallbore Prone Badge – making him a five-time Distinguished Marksman.
Mowrer had previously earned Distinguished Badges in Service Rifle (2005), Service Pistol (2013) and 60 Shot Air Pistol (2025), and even earned his International Distinguished Badge (2018).
Part of Team Lapua, he currently competes around the country in highpower, National Rifle League hunter, smallbore, air pistol or three-position matches – whatever he can find.
“I enjoy all of them, and I get something unique out of each and every different event,” he said.
As for the possibility of going on to earn yet another medal in his career after reaching his fifth, his answer was confident, yet simple.
“Maybe one day,” he said with a smile. “My desire for different sports kind of goes with the wind, so – I say, ‘Not right now,’ and then next year, I’ll be out here and go, ‘I’ll just go ahead and finish up that badge.’”
Mike Carter, 68, of Hendersonville, TN, was presented his own Distinguished Smallbore Prone Badge alongside Mowrer at the National Matches awards ceremony. With the addition of Mowrer and Carter, there have only been six Distinguished Smallbore Prone Badges awarded since the beginning of the program in 2020.
In team competition, Murray State Alumni took home the overall Open win with an outstanding score of 1,599-108X. Team members were Mark Del Cotto, Kerry Spurgin, Daniel Erpenbach and Deena Wigger.
Special thank you to Walther Competition Shooting USA for attending as event sponsor and generously providing award money to leading competitors. In Conventional Prone, first earned $500, second $400 and those in third received $300. In the Junior and F-Class categories, first received $250, second $200 and third $150.
View a complete list of results of the 2026 National Matches Smallbore Prone Matches at https://ct.thecmp.org/2026NMSBProneResults.
Photos are available online for free download at https://cmp1.zenfolio.com/f767946623.