Six members of the Newberry Junior Pistol Club received invitations to compete at the 2014 US Junior Olympic Pistol Championship being held at the US Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Apil 9th-14th. The top shooters from all over the country will be competing for medals in both air and 22 cal. pistol.
Newberry Junior Pistol Club had eight members competing in the SC State Junior Olympic Championship held at The Citadel in December. All eight Newberry shooters performed well. Sean Blanton was able to take Gold Medals in both air pistol and 22cal. sport pistol.Brianna Kinard won Gold in ladies air pistol. Carrie Haltiwanger was able to take Silver in both ladies air and sport pistol. Galina McBurnett won Bronze in ladies sport pistol.Jonas Ha took the Bronze in men's sport pistol, and Conrad long took Bronze in men's air pistol.
Due to their outstanding performances in the State competition six of the Newberry competitors earned invitations to the US National Junior Olympic Pistol Championship. Sean Blanton, Brianna Kinard, Carrie Haltiwanger, Galina McBurnett, Valerie Long, and Kelsey Winters all received invitations to compete this April in Colorado Springs against the top shooters in the country.
Coach Ben Blanton is very proud of all of his shooters and the efforts they put forth to earn these outstanding honors. The Newberry Junior Pistol Club would also like to express special thanks to Friends of NRA Foundation and Gun Owners of SC for their financial support, without which, the program would be unable to funtion and produce shooters of this quality. Any junior wishing to participate with the Newberry Junior Pistol Club can contact Coach Ben Blanton at 803-924-4694 or email qbeb@yahoo.com. The Newberry Junior Pistol Club is also looking for sponsors to help with the team's travel expenses to the competion in Colorado.