‘ALL GIRL’ Team from Florida’s Oviedo High Captures National Naval Championship

Junior ROTC Marksmanship Team takes top honors at the Navy Nationals Marksmanship Competition

Scott Clark does a lot of work for the NRA down in Florida. In addition to being a Certified NRA Instructor, Refuse to be a Victim Counselor and Level 1 Rifle Coach, he devotes his “free time” to area youth shooting sports programs.Earlier this week, he sent us the following on one of those youth shooting programs — the Oviedo High School Naval Junior ROTC Marksmanship Team.

Oviedo, Florida – The Oviedo High School NJROTC Marksmanship Team took top honors at the Navy Nationals Marksmanship Competition in Anniston, Alabama.

Oviedo High Teams have won first-place for each of the last eight years at the Florida Navy Marksmanship Competition, held each December. This year, the team went on to out shoot 26 other teams from across the country to take 1st place at the Navy national competition.

The ALL GIRL team was honored last Saturday night at a banquet and was awarded a $ 1,000 check, a $ 100 certificate from Daisy Outdoor Products, a competition rifle worth $ 550 and the honor to display the national trophy cup for the next year at Oviedo High School.

For their composite scores, the team shot 0.177-caliber pellet air rifles in three different positions; prone, kneeling and standing. Members of the team include Danielle Barrody, Mackenzie Campbell (team captain), Natalie Hudson, Hailey Malles and Shelbi Sessions.

Commander of the Oviedo High School NJOTC unit is Col Joseph Nardo, USMC Retired, with shooting coaches Master Chief Petty Officer Dale Marteney, USN Retired and CWO3 Ken Pintar, USN Retired.

By winning the Navy National Marksmanship Championship, the team advances to the Grand National competition, set for March 21-23, being held in Anniston, Alabama. At this event, the Oviedo High School Marksmanship team will compete against other NAVY JROTC teams and JROTC teams from all of the service branches.

A second marksmanship team from Oviedo High School placed 12th in the NJROTC national championship made up of Ryan Carr, Jason Compton, Julia King, Grayson Malles and Natalie White.

For further information or an interview with the unit commander, coaches or team members, please contact Col. Joe Nardo, USMC Retired at 407-320-4062 (Monday-Friday, 8AM-3PM eastern time).

Attending the competition in Anniston last week cost the marksmanship team over $ 6,000 in travel and team expenses. To return to the All Service championship matches on March 21-23, the team is actively seeking partners and sponsors to assist with covering their expenses. Any and all donations to this fund would be greatly appreciated. If you or your company are willing to help in this effort, please contact Kent Arblaster at SAFE of Florida at kent@safefla.org or 407-782-9735.

Sponsor for the team include SAFE of Florida, Inc. and The NRA Foundation, Inc. Both organizations are dedicated to further advancing youth shooting sports programs.

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