U.S. Army Soldiers to compete in ISSF Rifle World Cup

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class JaJuan Broadnax | U.S. Army Marksmanship International Rifle Team members compete in the USA Shooting Rifle Selection Match at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center on January 6, 2022. This match determined who would join the National Rifle Team at the upcoming World Cups this spring.  

FORT BENNING, GA, UNITED STATES

02.17.2022

Story by Sgt. 1st Class JaJuan Broadnax 

U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit

Five U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Soldiers will travel to Cairo, Egypt to compete in the International Shooting Sports Federation Rifle World Cup beginning on February 26 through March 8, thanks to their top finishes in selection matches over the past few months.

In the Women’s Smallbore discipline, 2020 Olympian Spc. Sagen Maddalena, a Groveland, California native, along with civilian competitors fellow 2020 Olympian Mary Tucker and Morgan Kreb, ranked in the top three positions during the USA Shooting Rifle Selection Match at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center January of this year, thus securing their spots on the National Rifle Team.

In the Men’s Smallbore discipline, Sgt. Tim Sherry, an Evergreen, Colorado native, Spc. Ivan Roe, a Manhattan, Montana native, and 2020 Olympian Staff Sgt. Patrick Sunderman, a Farmington, Minnesota native, ranked the top three, securing their spots at the next few upcoming World Cups.

Using aggregate scores from previous selection matches during the fall of 2021, Maddalena made the National Women’s Air Rifle Team along with fellow 2020 Olympian Spc. Alison Weisz, a Belgrade, Montana native and civilian competitor, Olympic Gold Medalist Virginia Thrasher.

Using the same scoring system, Sherry made the male National Air Rifle Team along with civilian competitors Olympic Gold Medalist Will Shaner and two-time Olympian Lucas Kozeniesky.

These were the first selection matches since recent changes have been implemented by the International Shooting Sports Federation. Previously, competitors shot 40 rounds from the kneeling, prone and standing positions. With the changes, competitors will now shoot 20 rounds from each position, thus giving them less time to make their way to the top ranks.

“One of the nuances to this change is that there will likely be more variability in scores day to day,” said USAMU International Rifle Assistant Team Chief Sgt. 1st Class Hank Gray. “If a shooter gets hot, he or she can more easily have a monster score. However, the same is true on the other end too. The shorter format makes it much more difficult to recover from a few bad shots. Maintaining absolute focus and concentration throughout the match will be key.”

The World Cup is the first of the season. Other upcoming World Cups will be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Baku, Azerbaijan throughout the spring.

• Date Taken: 02.17.2022
• Date Posted: 02.17.2022 14:15
• Story ID: 414850
• Location: FORT BENNING, GA, US
• Hometown: BELGRADE, MT, US
• Hometown: EVERGREEN, CO, US
• Hometown: FARMINGTON, MN, US
• Hometown: GROVELAND, CA, US
• Hometown: MANHATTAN, MT, US