Did you know that our nation's Olympic shooters don't just compete at the Olympics? USA Shooting is the governing body for American participation in international competition, and its Junior team of shooters just turned in a wunderbar performance overseas in Suhl, Germany, last week. All told, USA Shooting’s junior shotgun athletes earned six medals at the International Shooting Sport Foundation (ISSF) Junior World Cup, held May 9-20, 2022.
In trap, Lance Thompson, Matthew Kutz, and Emilio Carvahlo took home the gold. Lance Thompson also earned silver in Men’s Individual Trap. Lance started shooting when he was nine years old, when his dad signed him up for a Shotgun safety course. He currently trains at the Palmyra International Shotgun range in Annville, Pennsylvania. Lance is working on his goal of making the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trap team.
Sydney Krieger won bronze in Women’s Individual Trap, proving she works just as well solo as with part of a team. Fresh from her Women's Trap Team event win (together with Faith Pendergass and Bethany High) at the Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru, Sydney is also a member of the Scholastic Clay Target Program.
In skeet, Julia “Lia” Nelson walked away with the gold medal in the Women’s Individual event. Lia is a junior women's skeet shooter and competes on the Schreiner University shotgun team. She's also a member of the Scholastic Clay Target Program. Mikena “Grace” Fulton earned fourth place.
Jordan Sapp, Benjamin Keller, and Aidin Burns topped the podium by winning gold in the Men’s Skeet Team event. In the Mixed Skeet Team bronze medal match, Nelson and Sapp faced their own teammates, Keller and Fulton. Nelson and Sapp went on to earn their second medal by securing bronze.
All official results can be found here. Up next for the junior shotgun team is the ISSF World Championships in Osijek, Croatia, Sept. 19- Oct. 25. Keep your eyes on this space!
