Richards NJROTC Team Recaptures Marksmanship Traveling Trophy

OAK LAWN, IL — The Richards High School NJROTC recaptured the CHSD 218 air rifle champions traveling trophy on April 23. The championship was hosted by Richards this year and featured the top three marksman from each JROTC unit in District 218.

The Cardinals from Eisenhower High School Marine Corp JROTC were represented by Cadets Matias Cozzi, Shelby Cusack and Vanessa Zendejas.

The Astros, of Shepard High School Air Force JROTC, included Cadets Joe Cinkus, Arianna Esquivel and Karol Kos.

Rounding out the nine competitors were the Bulldog Company Cadets from Richards, Cadets Abigail Schrode, Leland Murphy and Kylie Schaefer.

Each competitor shot ten shots in the prone (laying down) position, ten shots standing and finally ten shots kneeling for a maximum combined score of 300. Cadets are given a five-minute changeover between each position and are allowed five to eight minutes for sighter shots used to adjust the sights on their rifles.

The competition was fairly close going into the final kneeling round, but after the points were tallied, Richards came out ahead with a total score of 683.8. Shepard followed with a final score of 644.6 and Eisenhower came in third with a score of 591.5.

The top three marksmen in the prone position were Kylie Schaefer with 86.9, Leland Murphy with 88.7 and Abigail Schrode with 92.1 to give Richards a sweep in this position.

In the standing position, Karol Kos placed third with a score of 68.8. Leland Murphy repeated with a score of 74.4 to take second, and Kylie Schaefer posted her highest standing score to date with a 76.4.

Taking kneeling honors were Abigail Schrode in third place with a 79.9; Matias Cozzi from Eisenhower with 81.6; and in first place for kneeling Kylie Schaefer with a 88.6.

Overall the top five marksmen included fifth place, Mattias Cozzi with a 207.4. fourth place honors went to Karol Kos with a 219. Third place was captured by freshman Leland Murphy with a 225 and second place to senior Joe Cinkus with a 228.6.

Richards frosh Kylie Schaefer bested the field overall with a score of 251.9 another season high for her. Richards NJROTC is looking forward to another great season next year and is eager for next year's freshmen class to try out NJROTC and to join the CHSD 218 Champion Air Rifle Team.

~ Contributed by Douglas J. Groters CDR, USN Ret, Richards NJROTC