MADISON – This season has been filled with gratifying returns from competition for the Air Force Junior ROTC or AFJROTC at Bob Jones High School.

Their latest contest was the 2023 National Air Rifle New Shooter League. Shooting their highest score of the season, Bob Jones AFJROTC defeated Caney Creek Navy Junior JROTC. Bob Jones’ score was 877.1, compared to 798.6 for Caney Creek.

This event was Bob Jones’ second win in a row. Elizabeth Lee led Bob Jones with a score of 226.0. “The remaining contributing members were Aaron Chen, Carson Drake and Taylor Turpin,” CMSgt. Ellis Q. Clark said. Clark coaches the Bob Jones team.

Overall, Bob Jones is ranked 47th. They have a 3-1 record.

Abrham Hernandez, who shot a 242.7, led Caney Creek NJROTC. The remaining contributing members were Leland Orvis, William Clary and Sierra Watson. Caney Creek NJROTC is from Conroe, Texas. LCDR Raleigh Stahl coaches the group.

Overall, Caney Creek NJROTC is ranked 52nd. They have a 2-2 record.

In its next meet, Bob Jones will compete against Knob Noster High School from Knob Noster, Mo. Currently, Knob Noster has a 1-0 record. “Caney Creek NJROTC will compete against Milton NJROTC from Milton, Fla. Milton currently has a 4-1 record,” Clark said.

These two teams are competing in the National Air Rifle ‘New Shooter’ League. Sponsored by the Orion Scoring System, the league is a national team league that is exclusive to athletes in their first year of competition.

The league includes teams from high schools and junior rifle clubs throughout the United States. During 10 weeks, each team competes in eight games. Each week, each team is paired with another team with a near-equal skill level.

“In each game, the teams compete in what is known as a ‘Three-Position Air Rifle’ match. The match is modeled after Olympic Rifle competitions but adapted to high school age athletes,” Clark said.

Each athlete will shoot 10 shots in three different shooting positions — prone, standing and kneeling. Each shot is worth a maximum of 10.9 points. The sum of points scored in the 30 shots is the athlete’s total. The team score is comprised of the best four athletes’ results from each team.

For more information on the league, including complete standings, visit national-leagues.com/new-shooter.