Senior David Trumbull won the Distinguished Marksman award at the regional air rifle championships, which took place in Camp Perry, Ohio, from March 27th to March 29th. The NJROTC Rifle Team had qualified for one team (four people) to attend the regional air rifle championships a few months ago. This was due to the high scores of David Trumbull and Junior Robert Milburn, who had shot the qualifying postal match earlier in the year.

The team included David Trumbull, Robert Milburn, Danielle Plugge, and Brian Traube, with Samantha Buckman as an alternate.

Commander Henry Lane is the head of the Rifle Team. The team drove for six and a half hours, arriving at Camp Perry close to nine at night, at which point they unloaded their personal gear and went into their quarters.

The next morning the team woke and went over to the range for a training session, as well as rifle and gear check in. The process began around 1100 and lasted until 1500. This time included equipment check, instructions on the range, and an hour of practice time to learn how the range operates.

At a national level competition, each small part of rifle and shooter equipment and clothing is thoroughly checked. There are specific weights, measurements, and dimensions that apply to each component of the rifle and the shooter’s gear, all of which much be checked before the shooter is allowed to compete.

The air rifle range at Camp Perry is an electronic range, or a air rifle range that uses targets that operate in conjunction with a computer system, capable of detecting the exact location of the shot down to one tenth of a millimeter. The system then displays that information on a computer screen that is located next to the shooter’s location.

The team had the 1300-1500 relay on the first day of competition, which left them adequate time to eat breakfast and relax with more card games. At about 1230, the team packed the equipment back into the van and drove over to the competition center, at which point they were allowed on the range to set up their materials.

Given the chance to relax before the competition, the team discussed the scores that they wanted to achieve in the following days. Dany Plugge wished to shoot about a 500, as did Brian Traube. Both David Trumbull and Robert Milburn shoot above 500 regularly, with scores ranging between 520-550 on a regular basis.

The morning of the 29th was the second day of competition, the team having first relay at 0800-1000. This required an early rising, and the team was to the competition center by 0730. Once the competition had concluded, they were able to get their scores immediately.

Plugge shot 502 the first day and 496 the second day. Milburn shot 506 the first day and 501 the second day. Traube shot 496 the first day and 502 the second day. Trumbull shot 535 the first day and 542 the second day of competition.

 Although David Trumbull got the Distinguished Marksman award, no one else on the team nor the team as a whole received an award.

Through the duration of the trip, the team enjoyed various activities such as bowling, laser tag, playing at an arcade, eating at local restaurants, playing cards, and hanging out with the rifle teams from Patuxent and Annapolis high schools.

 “It was a great chance to have fun and bond with friends, as well as experience competition on such a large scale,” said Milburn.

Plugge said,“It was really fun to hang out with everyone. I totally wish I could do it again.”