Linse, Hitt Lead Aggregate Events at CMP’s 2025 Talladega Spring Classic
April 22, 2025
By Ashley Dugan, CMP Staff Writer
TALLADEGA, Ala. – SPC Zevin Linse, 22, of Columbus, GA, claimed multiple service rifle wins at the 2025 Talladega Spring Classic as he overtook the Mid-Range event as well as the Rifle 2400 Aggregate after firing consistent scores through three days of tough competition.
The 2025 Talladega Spring Classic was held March 18-23, at the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama. Part of CMP’s annual Travel Games lineup, the Spring Classic saw 343 individuals participating in the array of rifle, pistol and shotgun events for adults and juniors of all experience levels.
The 600-yard Kongsberg Target System (KTS) electronic target range of Talladega, which hosted the Spring Classic’s rifle events, overwent a complete system and hardware renovation in late 2024. The Classic was only CMP’s second event on the updated technology, but, through the detailed management of CMP’s staff, the eTargets showed consistent success during competition.
“The KTS eTarget system worked great at the Spring Classic,” said Brian Williams, CMP Highpower Manager. “The improvements and upgrades that we did to the system last fall worked out just as we had planned.”
“The eTargets that will be in used at the National Matches this year will be run by the same software, and very similar hardware,” Williams went on, referring to the planned eTarget use for the entire Rifle phase of the 2025 National Matches in Ohio in July and August. “We expect the National Matches to run just as smooth as the Spring Classic.”
Also securing multiple rifle wins during the Talladega Spring Classic was Keith Schachle, 66, of Jasper, GA, who earned the top spot in the Springfield and Vintage Military Matches. Geoff Bateman, 64, of Powder Springs, GA, and Kyle Kirschenmann, 61, of Tellico Plains, TN, earned by marginal victories, respectively, in the Garand and Modern Military competitions – Bateman by just two points and Kirschenmann only by x-count.
Pistol 2700 Aggregate.
the Service Revolver EIC Match.
In pistol, Odie Hitt, 67, of Gilmer, TX, led the cumulative Any Sight Pistol 2700 Aggregate, taking the Center Fire Pistol 900 Aggregate along the way. Daniel Kupar, 67, of Whitehall, PA, was the Any Sight Champion of the remaining .22 Rimfire Pistol and .45 Caliber 900 Aggregates, while Jared Sonti, 25, of Kempner, TX, claimed the Metallic Sight wins in all pistol aggregate matches. Sonti went on to earn wins in the .22 Rimfire, Service Pistol and Revolver Pistol EIC events.
This year, the Talladega Spring Classic included a two-person shotgun match on Talladega’s Sporting Clays Loop, with 21 teams participating. Leading was team Dumb and Dumber (Johnny Rich, Robert Carleton) with a score of 167.
Other leading competitors of the 2025 Talladega Spring Classic:
RIFLE:
M16: Jerry Hagen, 59, Stephenville, TX – 387-12X
Mid-Range Match:
Service: SPC Zevin Linse, 22, Columbus, GA – 791-39X
Match: Mark Aussieker, 54, Wenona, IL – 796-41X
AR Tactical: Holly Eustace, 41, Kennesaw, GA – 784-24X
F-Class: Jerry Rochelle, 61, Eads, TN – 794-44X
2400 Aggregate:
Service: SPC Zevin Linse, 22, Columbus, GA – 2380-103X
Service Rifle EIC: Justin Patton-Rynders, 37, Murfreesboro, TN – 498-20X
Garand: Geoff Bateman, 64, Powder Springs, GA – 286-4X
Springfield: Keith Schachle, 66, Jasper, GA – 291-15X
Vintage Military: Keith Schachle, 66, Jasper, GA – 288-3X
GSM Three-Gun Aggregate: Patrick McAllister, 51, Las Vegas, NV – 850-9X
Modern Military: Kyle Kirschenmann, 61, Tellico Plains, TN – 289-13X
Rimfire Sporter:
T-Class: Aaron Boyd, 18, Senoia, GA – 595-32X
Benchrest VMR: Michael Sage, 55, Columbus, GA – 294-14X
Carbine: Chance Cavin, 37, Madison, MS – 366-4X
Vintage Sniper:
Manual: Swede x2 (James Alan Crowley, Andrew Granberry) – 382-11X
Semi-Auto: Shennanigans (Cody Kornegay, Ryan Brady) – 355-3X
Vietnam Era: Screaming Sparrows (MAJ Jennifer Creasy, COL Daniel Henk) – 390-16X
PISTOL:
M9: Joseph McMillan, 65, Greenville, NC – 253-4X
.22 Rimfire Pistol 900 Aggregate:
Any Sights: Daniel Kupar, 67, Whitehall, PA – 879-45X
Metallic: Jared Sonti, 25, Kempner, TX – 878-38X
Center Fire Pistol 900 Aggregate:
Any Sights: Odie Hitt, 67, Gilmer, TX – 825-15X
Metallic: Jared Sonti, 25, Kempner, TX – 858-28X
.45 Caliber Pistol 900 Aggregate:
Any Sights: Daniel Kupar, 67, Whitehall, PA – 876-40X
Metallic: Jared Sonti, 25, Kempner, TX – 853-29X
Pistol 2700 Aggregate:
Any Sights: Odie Hitt, 67, Gilmer, TX – 2510-51X
Metallic Sights: Jared Sonti, 25, Kempner, TX – 2589-95X
.22 Rimfire EIC: Jared Sonti, 25, Kempner, TX – 293-5X
Service Pistol EIC: Jared Sonti, 25, Kempner, TX – 279-7X
Revolver Pistol EIC: Jared Sonti, 25, Kempner, TX – 371-8X
Shotgun Team: Dumb and Dumber (Johnny Rich, Robert Carleton) – 167
For a complete list of results, visit https://ct.thecmp.org/25SpringClassicResults. Photos of the event may be viewed and downloaded for free from the CMP’s Zenfolio page at https://cmp1.zenfolio.com/f981709409.
The next Travel Games event is the Eastern CMP Games and CMP Highpower Rifle Matches – April 25 through May 4, at Camp Butner in North Carolina. To register or to view the entire match lineup, visit the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/cmp-matches/eastern-cmp-games-cmp-hp-rifle-matches/.
About the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park:
Talladega Marksmanship Park, “The Home of Marksmanship,” is a worthy destination for firearm supporters and guests looking for practice, competition and mindful learning opportunities. Featuring CMP electronic targets and scoring monitors that can only be found at the 500-acre facility, the park regularly hosts rifle, pistol and shotgun events all year long. The CMP’s Unknown Distance Range at Talladega also allows guests to practice their skills in the field of over 100 steel targets, while the 20-lane life-size 3D target Archery Range provides even more marksmanship fun at the park.
The public is welcome daily, all year long, to test out their firearms or to simply explore the grounds. Off the firing line, the Club House holds a fully stocked Pro Shop that includes an exclusive collection of rifles, ammunition, marksmanship accessories and CMP memorabilia that is always open during park hours.Learn more about Talladega Marksmanship Park at https://thecmp.org/ranges/talladega-marksmanship-park/.
Great shooting everyone and special congratulations to one of our “out West guys” for his wins and going DR, “Mac”. (Patrick McAllister)