from Bill Dutton
Eleven young men and Four women from all around New Hampshire came together at the Hudson Fish and Game Club to compete in the 2014 New Hampshire Air Rifle Junior Olympic State Championship.
The USA Shooting sanctioned Air Rifle matches are split into men’s and women’s divisions. Men are required to shoot 60 shots for record while the women only shoot 40 shots.
For the Women, The top prize went to Elizabeth Dutton of Derry shooting a 367 and outpacing the nearest competitor by 23 points. Taking the silver medal for the women was Grace Hackler of Keene who edged out newcomer Victoria D’Amico of Bedford who took home the bronze medal.
The mens division was lead by Joe Nikiforakis of Swanzey securing the gold medal with a score of 575. The competition for the silver medal was tight heading into the final 2 stages of fire with Zach Wambsganss of Hudson holding onto a 4 point lead over Jarred Dassler of Salem. Tobin Sanctuary of Alstead was well within reach just 5 points behind Dassler’s 369. Dassler fired an outstanding 95 and 94 finishing with a 558 securing the silver medal while Wambsganss held off a stong finish from Sanctuary to take the bronze.
The gold medalists Elizabeth Dutton and Joe Nikiforakis will earn and invitation to compete at the National Junior Olympics in Colorado this Spring! Best of luck to you both!
2014-nh-air jorc (PDF, 116KB)
