USA Shooting National Jr Olympics

[USAS]

USA Shooting’s Junior Olympic Championships Wrap Up with Men’s and Women’s Pistol Events



COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2006 USA Shooting National Junior Olympic Championships rounded out its two-week competition at the Olympic Shooting Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., with the men’s and women’s pistol events concluding on Saturday.



Junior Olympic pistol shooters arrived on March 29 and dug into a strenuous competition schedule that included the women’s sport pistol competition and finals on March 30, men’s air pistol matches and finals on March 31, and both women’s air and men’s free pistol matches and finals on April 1.



Fifteen-year-old Heather Deppe (San Antonio, Texas) started out strong on the women’s front with a big win in the 25m sport pistol event. Deppe finished with a 551 qualifying score, which put her in an extremely comfortable position going into the final round. In the final, she shot a 199.1 final score for a 750.1 total score and the 20-point lead on her next competitor Courtney Anthony (Lexington, Neb.). Anthony finished with a 536 qualifying and a 194.6 in the final for 730.6 total points and the second-place finish. Delaware’s Lauren Diefenderfer finished third with a 712.6 (530 +182.6) total score.



“I really enjoyed myself at this match,” Deppe said. “I think that is the most important thing to remember-- is that you’re supposed to have fun. I’ve really been practicing hard, but when it comes to competition time and things don’t fall into place, at least I can walk away and say I had a good time. I think the Junior Olympics is one of the best matches to find that kind of atmosphere.”



Deppe most likely continued to have a good time in women’s air pistol, as she finished with a 742 qualifying and a 93.6 in the final for a 835.6 total score and another great win. Again, Anthony placed second, finishing with a 719 qualifying score, a 98.3 final, for a 817.3 finish, while Montana’s Michelle Everett took third with a 710 qualifying, a 97.9 final and a 807.9 total score.



In men’s air pistol, Nicholas Budnella (Colorado Springs, Colo.) took the top-spot on his home range. Budnella finished with a 1,129 qualifying, a 96.6 final for a 1,225.6 total score and the win. Cody Owsley (Tonganoxie, Kan.) finished in second with a 1,219.0 (1,123 + 96.0) total score, while Florida’s Tucker Stachitas came out of nowhere for the bronze medal, shooting a 1,218.4 (1,120 + 98.4) total score.



Stachitas turned around to win the men’s 50m free pistol event a day later, finishing with a 511 qualifying score, a 91.9 in the final for a 602.9 total. Owsley again found himself in second, shooting a 517 qualifying score, a 83.2 final for a 600.2 total score, while Massachusetts’ Tyler Imig took third with a 593.5 (505 +88.5) total.



For full results from the National Junior Olympic Championships, please log on to www.usashooting.org. For any pictures from this event, please email sara.john@usashooting.org.





Sara John

Director of Media Relations

USA Shooting



1 Olympic Plaza

Colorado Springs, CO 80909

office 719-866-4896

cell 719-310-2606