Record Attendance Marks the 2025 New England CMP Games
December 12, 2025
JERICHO, Vt. – Over 250 individuals traveled to the foothills of the Green Mountains to attend the 2025 New England Games, part of the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) Travel Games schedule.
This year was the highest attendance ever in the near-decade history of the New England Games, with several repeat and new guests taking part in the competitive, educational and sales opportunities offered at the recreational event.
The annual New England Games features CMP’s own exciting lineup of vintage and modern military rifle and pistol competitions, designed for everyone to enjoy. The events are suitable for those just beginning in the sport of marksmanship while offering fun challenges for more experienced individuals.
Leading the overall M17 Pistol Match, part of the Pistol Marksmanship 101 educational course offered at each CMP Travel Games, was MSgt Garey Diefenderfer, 57, of Waynesboro, PA, with a score of 255-3X. The match is a true Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) event, where competitors have the chance to earn their first EIC points needed to earn a Distinguished Badge.
Earning his first points in the M17 Match and second overall was SSG Shah Jamal, 46, of Saint Albans, VT, with a score of 246-1X.
Likewise, in the M16 Match that accompanied the Rifle Marksmanship 101 course, Christopher Corning, 43, of Northwood, NH, led overall and earned EIC points after firing a score of 379-7X.
Diefenderfer went on to claim wins in several other pistol matches, including the CMP .22 Rimfire Pistol EIC, Pistol EIC and As-Issued 1911 Pistol events. He was also the overall Metallic Sights competitor in the Pistol 2700 Aggregate after setting a new record score of 2426-42X. Diefenderfer set an additional record in the .22 Rimfire Pistol 900 Aggregate with Metallic Sights, reaching an overall score of 848-21X.
Also finding a new record in the .22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate was Nathan Zajac, 45, of Florence, MA, who fired a score of 866-30X in the Any Sights category. Zajac went on to lead the category in the Center Fire 900 Aggregate as well as in the Pistol 2700, while adding an overall win in the Military & Police Pistol event.
The 2025 New England Games schedule also included a Mid-Range 2×600 Rifle Match, featuring Service Rifle, Match Rifle, Palma, F-Class, F T/R and AR Tactical classes.
Leaders of the New England Games Mid-Range 3×600 were:
Service Rifle: Nathan Lockwood, 32, Columbus, GA – 400-28X
Match Rifle: SSG John Coggshall, 40, Meriden, CT – 399-26X
Palma Rifle: MSG Kristoffer Friend, 39, Trumbull, CT – 399-27X
F-Class: CPO Terry Finner, 68, Stillwater, NY – 400-25X
F T/R: Jim Kleptz, 30, Lincoln, VT – 387-13X
AR Tactical: Lynn Stanton, 67, Lake Luzerne, NY – 395-18X
Brian Appel, 36, of Holyoke, MA, claimed wins in the Springfield and Vintage Rifle Matches on his way to earning the Three-Gun Aggregate title, with a score of 863-23X. MAJ Ian Swisher, 40, of Rockville, MD, led the Four-Gun Aggregate with a score of 1133-20X, along with reaching the top spot in the Garand Match. Thomas Dunn, 66, of Millbrook, NY, earned the win in the Modern Military Match, with a score of 290-8X.
Congratulations also to MSG Kristoffer Friend, 39, of Trumbull, CT, who fired a score of 2383-111X to secure a new record score in the 2400 Aggregate Service Rifle category. SFC Dwayne Lewis, 60, of Greenville, SC, led the Match Rifle portion with 2325-67X.
Other top competitors of the 2025 New England Games:
Pistol:
M17 Overall: MSgt Garey Diefenderfer, 57, Waynesboro, PA – 255-3X
M17 EIC Credit Points: SSG Shah Jamal, 46, Saint Albans, VT – 246-1X
CMP .22 Rimfire Pistol EIC: MSgt Garey Diefenderfer, 57, Waynesboro, PA – 278-3X
Pistol EIC: MSgt Garey Diefenderfer, 57, Waynesboro, PA – 268-1X
EIC Service Revolver: Michael Kirk, 61, Killington, VT – 342-7X
As-Issued 1911 Pistol: MSgt Garey Diefenderfer, 57, Waynesboro, PA – 344-4X
Military & Police Service Pistol: Nathan Zajac, 45, Florence, MA – 339-3X
.22 Rimfire 900 Aggregate:
Any Sights: Nathan Zajac, 45, Florence, MA – 866-30X
Metallic Sights: MSgt Garey Diefenderfer, 57, Waynesboro, PA – 848-21X (NEW RECORD)
.22 Only: George Putnam, 70, Jeffersonville, VT – 713-5X
Center Fire 900 Aggregate:
Any Sights: Nathan Zajac, 45, Florence, MA – 836-16X
Metallic Sights: TSgt Nicolas Poirier, 36, Jericho, VT – 837-22X
.22 Only: George Putnam, 70, Jeffersonville, VT – 760-11X
.45 Pistol 900 Aggregate:
Any Sights: David Webb, 65, Harrisville, NH – 824-15X
Metallic Sights: MSgt Garey Diefenderfer, 57, Waynesboro, PA – 778-7X
.22 Only: George Putnam, 70, Jeffersonville, VT – 770-15X
Pistol 2700 Aggregate:
Any Sights: Nathan Zajac, 45, Florence, MA – 2517-56X
Metallic Sights: MSgt Garey Diefenderfer, 57, Waynesboro, PA – 2426-42X (NEW RECORD)
.22 Only: George Putnam, 70, Jeffersonville, VT – 2243-31X
Rifle:
M16 Overall/EIC Points: Christopher Corning, 43, Northwood, NH – 379-7X
Rimfire Sporter:
O-Class: 1LT Peter Romeo, 25, Vernon, VT – 541-10X
T-Class: Greg Hill, 69, Ferrisburgh, VT – 591-23X
TU Class: Cpl Kirk Barkman, 55, Greene, ME – 540-7X
Carbine Match: James Sinclair, 63, Dover, NH – 360-3X
Garand Match: MAJ Ian Swisher, 40, Rockville, MD – 289-8X
Springfield Match: Brian Appel, 36, Holyoke, MA – 289-7X
Vintage Military Match: Brian Appel, 36, Holyoke, MA – 287-7
Modern Military Match: Thomas Dunn, 66, Millbrook, NY – 290-8X
Three-Gun Aggregate: Brian Appel, 36, Holyoke, MA – 863-23X
Four-Gun Aggregate: MAJ Ian Swisher, 40, Rockville, MD – 1133-20X
Vintage Sniper Team #1:
Manual: Muhls Hardleg Raiders (Lynn Stanton, Van Dyke Bergen) – 393-13X
Vietnam Era: Richards/Walters (SSG Mark Richard, Mark Walters) – 392-12X
Vintage Sniper Team #2:
Manual: Stern/Williams (J.B. Stern, Brian Williams) – 388-12X
Vietnam Era: Hard Leg 3 (William Clark, James Horton) – 394-17X
Highpower Rifle:
2-Person Team: USAMU (SGT Zevin Linse, SSG Verne Conant) – 595-29X
EIC Rifle: SPC John Marshall, 23, Columbus, GA – 497-24X
2400 Aggregate:
Service Rifle: MSG Kristoffer Friend, 39, Trumbull, CT – 2383-111X
Match Rifle: SFC Dwayne Lewis, 60, Greenville, SC – 2325-67X
For a complete list of results, visit https://ct.thecmp.org/25NEGamesResults. Find photos of the event and download for free at https://cmp1.zenfolio.com/f292445850.
Save the Date for 2026 – we’ll be back in Vermont Sept. 18-27! Learn more about the event at https://thecmp.org/cmp-matches/new-england-cmp-hp-rifle-cmp-games/.