CHEBANSE, IL, 2/14/04 — The 2004 Illinois State Junior Olympic 3P Championship was held on Valentine’s Day at the River Valley Sharpshooters’ 18-point air rifle range in Chebanse, IL. Over 50 competitors from across the state were in attendance, vying for the chance to become the 2004 Illinois State Junior Olympic Champion in the precision and sporter 3 Position (3P) air rifle classes. In addition, winners of the precision and sporter-class team categories would be invited to represent Illinois at the National Junior Olympic Championship this summer.
The AIAC Juniors of Arlington Heights, IL, made the 2-hour trip south to Chebanse with 10 of its best sporter-class competitors and 2 sporter-class teams for the championship. When the individual sporter-class results were tallied, the club would once again come out on top in the 30-competitor field. AIAC Juniors would take home gold, silver, and bronze individual medals as well as 5 additional individual awards. Team member Hannah McHugh surpassed all competitors to finish as gold medallist and 2004 Illinois State 3P Sporter-Class Champion. Hannah’s score of 526 was a new personal best, beating her previous high score fired at the 2003 NRA National Championship by 6 points. Taking the individual silver medal was her teammate Katrina Meier with a score of 519 – also a new personal best. Katrina’s strong standing scores and consistency in each stage has helped propel her to the top of the results this season. Matthew Kou placed as the bronze medallist with a score of 499. Other AIAC Juniors receiving individual awards were Grace McHugh, Nicholas Meier, Benjamin Dove, and Katie Dorn.
While the individual results were used to crown the 2004 Illinois State Junior Olympic 3P Champions, it would be the 4-person team championship – and a trip to the nationals – that was the true focus of the match for most.
In the sporter-class team championship it was the “AIAC Gold” team of individual medallists Hannah McHugh, Katrina Meier, Matthew Kou, and Age 17 Category winner Nicholas Meier firing a winning score of 2012 to become the 2004 Illinois State Sporter-Class Team Champions and earn the AIAC Juniors the honor of representing Illinois at the 2004 National Junior Olympic Championship in Bowling Green, KY, this July.
Congratulations to the AIAC Juniors team members, Head Coach Peter Dorn, and coaches Don Weber, Ed Hewson, and Jay Vergenz, for their accomplishment.