I ran across this article while perusing the Wickenburg Sun website:

shooters.jpgThis past spring, a high school rifle team consisting of Wickenburg representatives set a new national record while competing in Arizona’s State Midrange Championships.

The team of Michael Dalton, Victoria Gray, William Burg and Travis Burian recorded the highest team score for junior shooters in the nation. Five state records were set by the team consisting of Jordan Busone, Victoria Gray, Michael Dalton, William Burg, Dylan Evans and Travis Burian. The other four records were all set by sharp-shooter Burian.

In addition to Arizona state championships, the junior team will be going once again to the national championships held at Camp Perry, Ohio. They will leave July 27 and compete there for more than a week.

Although it is not yet final who will participate, the members who have committed to this challenge so far are Burian, Dalton, Gray, Burg, Busone and Steven Swayzee. The trip will be funded primarily from donations the Wickenburg community.

The rifle team will be practicing all summer long for Camp Perry, a National Guard post on the shores of Lake Erie. The National Trophy Team Match brings in the top civilian and military shooters in the world together every year.

Imagine the scenario, as described by The Union Democrat newspaper, of Sonora, Calif.:

Six-person teams line up — eight at a time — along a quarter-mile firing line, starting at 600 yards. The targets are of the military variety, human upper-body silhouettes, rather than the usual bull’s eyes.

At the command to begin, all the shooters start firing as fast as they can, sending as many rounds downrange as possible in 50 seconds.

Shooters then hustle up to 500 yards and do it all over again, laying down a barrage aimed at slightly smaller silhouettes.

Next, it’s 300 yards and even smaller targets.

When it’s over — and it’s over fast — the team that hit the most targets the most often wins.

Practice for the local rifle team generally takes place at the Ben Avery shooting facility located off State Route 74 near Interstate 17 in Phoenix. This year’s WHS team is quite a bit larger than last year’s, in spite of the fact that Coach Rex Powers has retired as a teacher. Powers has been the coach for more than 16 years, and often personally finances much of the team’s expenses.