2016 CRPA & USA Shooting State Championship

​      “The most fun I have had watching a shooting event” A comment I overheard from one of the parents after the completion of the 2016 California Rifle & Pistol Association and USA Shooting State Championships. 
      Unlike my other stories I would like to start by giving a special thanks to Darrell Malstrom and Sam Thoman for setting up and hosting our competition and preparing all the electronic targets prior to the match.  I would also like to thank Jober Velasco who called the firing line commands during the 3-Position competition, his professionalism helped make this a wonderful event.  I give my thanks to all the competitors who attended especially the dedicated who drove all the way from Northern California to experience our facilities in preparation for the USA Shooting National Championships.

      The competition was divided into two separate days, on Saturday June 11th we held the 3-Position Championships.  We had 15 competitors with a very disperse age group, Juniors just starting out in their early Teens, Myself in my late 20’s and a couple of the… experienced few who continue the shooting sports for many many years. 
​      The men shot their 3x40 and the ladies shot there 3x20, three positions Kneeling, Prone, & Standing with 20 to 40 shots in each position.  After the 15 competitors finished the results came in and all we took the top 8 competitors mixed from the ladies and men to shoot in the “Winner take all Final”

3-Position Finalist Champions

Emily Capaul - Silver Medalists; Anusha Pakkam - Gold medalists; & Matt Liao - Bronze medalists.

​      From the Men, we had Matt Liao shooting an 1114 out of a possible 1200 points, Cameron Keating with 1113 points, Mark Gould with 1098, Gordon Taras with 1079, and Erick Vazques with 1071. Emily Capual led the ladies shooting an impressive 573 out of 600 possible points, Anusha Pakkam followed with 562, and Darien Torrison with 541.

​      The 3-Position Final where the winner receives the California Bear Trophy is where the competition got really interesting.  We fast forward to where all competitors where in the standing position Matt Liao had a 0.5 point lead he fired off his 17th shot, a 9.7, giving him a score of 409.1, Emily Capaul match his 9.7 not losing any ground but not closing the gap either. However, Anusha Pakkam shot a 10.9 on her 17th shot and that does close a gap!  Moving her 1.2 points closer to the silver medal.  On Anusha’s 18th shot everything changed, she fired a solid 10.3 that vaulted her into the Gold medal Position while Matt scored a wide 7.7 dropping him into a Bronze medal position.  Shot 19, Emily Scored a deep 10.5 moving herself into the gold medal position holding a score of 428.3 exactly one point over Anusha wh0 was 0.2 points over Matt Liao… 

      Unfortunately for Matt he was eliminated after his 19th shot, earning the Bronze Medal, and High Jr. award.  With one final shot to go both Anusha & Emily took amazing shots, and the board changed once again, Anusha Shot a deep 10.5 giving her a final score of 437.8 while Emily scored a 9.2 this locked her into the silver medal and High Woman Award.  With only a 0.3 point difference Anusha Won the gold medal and prized California Bear Trophy.
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Congratulations to all competitors and once again, thank you for supporting our sport!

Photo's & Article Posted By:
SSgt Cameron Keating
USAF Shooting Team Member