COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 22) -- Brian Ballard (Culdesac, Idaho) earned the trap national championship title by shooting a 316/325 at the 1996 USA Shooting National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 22.
Ballard, 35, took an early lead in the championships by shooting a 98/100 the first day followed by a 99 on the second day of the three-day competition.
"I came out here a few days early to do some extra training, and it went really well. That helped me feel confident going in," said Ballard. "I was nervous first thing this morning and then again in the final, but I got it figured out."
Mike Herman (Dayton, Wyo.) took the silver medal with 25 in the final for an aggregate of 312. The bronze medal went to Dominic Grazioli (San Antonio, Texas) with 310 points. Both Herman and Grazioli are members of the U.S. Air Force Shooting Team.
Martin Davies (Chula Vista, Calif.) took top junior honors with his score of 280/300. Second place went to Olympic Training Center resident athlete Matt Ruchong (Eureka, Calif.) for his 279. Jason Watson finished third with 278.
U.S. Army Marksmanship member Joetta Novinski (Renton, Wash.) won the women's category with a score of 270/300.
Trap (out of 325 possible points)
1, Brian Ballard (Culdesac, Idaho), 316 (291+25).
2, Mike Herman (Dayton, Wyo) 312 (287+25).
3, Dominic Grazioli (San Antonio, Texas) 310 (285+25).
Junior Trap (out of 300 possible points)
1, Martin Davies (Chula Vista, Calif.) 280.
2, Matt Ruchong (Eureka, Calif.) 279.
3, Jason Watson, 278.
Women's Trap (out of 300 possible points)
1. Joetta Novinski (Renton, Wash.) 270.
2, Denise Morrison (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 267.
3, Carolyn Koch-Paramore (Duncan, Okla.), 264.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 25) -- Air Force Second Lieutenant Mike Herman (Dayton, Wyo.) and Army Specialist Joetta Novinski (Renton, Wash.) claimed national championship titles in men's and women's double trap at the 1996 USA Shooting National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 25.
Novinski shattered 241/280 targets to take the gold medal. Deena Mendicino (Omaha, Neb.) and Connie Schiller (College Station, Texas) tied at 235 and went into a tie-breaker shoot-off to determine the runner-up in women's double trap. Mendicino beat out Schiller for the silver medal after two targets.
"I've been training harder than ever since Olympic trials," said Novinski. "Nationals became my goal after trials were over." She also won the women's trap national championship on June 22.
In the men's event, Herman broke 318/350 targets for his national championship crown. Steve Puls (Cushing, Okla.) fired a 314 for the silver, while junior shooter Matt Ruchong (Eureka, Calif.) finished only a target behind at 313.
"Trap is what I consider to be my big event," said Herman, who placed second in the trap championship on June 22. "But, I really enjoy double trap too."
In junior competition, Ruchong took the gold with his match score of 271. Martin Davies (Chula Vista, Calif.) finished second with 266, while George Harrison (Grass Valley, Calif.) was just a target behind at 265 for the bronze.
"My goal was to win the junior category," said Ruchong. "Medaling in the open championships was a bonus."
Double Trap- Men (out of 350 possible points)
1, Mike Herman (Dayton, Wyo.), 318 (274 + 44).
2, Steve Puls (Cushing, Okla.), 314 (269 + 45).
3, Matt Ruchong (Eureka, Calif.), 313 (271 + 42).
4, Chuck Redding, 312 (270 + 42).
5, Bill Zuspan, 306 (267 + 39; shoot-off; 3).
6, Ray Ycong (Kerman, Calif.), 306 (266 + 40; shoot-off; 2).
Double Trap-Women (out of 280 possible points)
1, Joetta Novinski (Renton, Wash.), 241 (209 + 32).
2, Deena Mendicino (Omaha, Neb.) 235 (201 + 34; shoot-off; 2).
3, Connie Schiller (College Station, Texas), 235 (201 + 33; shoot-off; 1).
4, Denise Morrison (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 233 (199 + 34).
5, Cindy Gentry (Atlanta, Ga.), 229 (196 + 33).
6, Carolyn Koch-Paramore (Duncan, Okla.), 227 (194 + 33).
Double Trap-Juniors (out of 300 possible points)
1, Matt Ruchong (Eureka, Calif.), 271.
2, Martin Davies (Chula Vista, Calif.), 266.
3, George Harrison (Grass Valley, Calif.), 265.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 29) -- Army Specialist Joe Buffa (Flint, Mich.) beat out 1996 Olympian and U.S. Air Force Major Bill Roy (Alamogordo, N.M.) to win his first skeet national championship at the USA Shooting National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 29.
"One of my goals was to help Roy prepare for the Olympics by giving him some tough competition," said Buffa, a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in Ft. Benning, Ga.
Buffa shattered 294/300 targets and 25/25 in the final for a 319 aggregate and the gold medal. The silver medal was determined by a shoot-off tie- breaker between Roy and Dean Clark (Garrettsville, Ohio). Clark missed his fourth target giving Roy the silver medal.
"I'm actually happy with second place. I really used this match as a springboard for the Olympics," said Roy. "I feel like I'm one step closer to where I want to be. Obviously, I want to have my best performance at the Olympics."
Colleen Rumor (Glastonbury, Conn.) won the women's national championship title after shattering 255/300 targets. Shari LeGate (Peyton, Colo.) came in second with 248, while Terry Bankey (Downy, Calif.) was third at 233.
In junior competition, Justin Williford (Loveland, Colo.) won top honors for his 281/300. Jason Hosford (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) took the silver medal with 279, and Mark Weeks (Harrison Township, Mich.) won the bronze with 277.
Skeet - Men (out of 325 possible points)
1, Joe Buffa (Flint, Mich.), 319 (294+25).
2, Bill Roy (Alamagordo, N.M.), 317 (293+24; shoot-off; 4).
3, Dean Clark (Garrettsville, Ohio), 317 (293+24; shoot-off; 3).
4. Brian Osborn (Federal Way, Wash.), 312 (287+25).
5, Shawn Dulohery (Lee's Summit, Mo.), 310 (285+25).
6, Justin Hensel (Diamond Bar, Calif.) 308 (285+22).
Skeet - Women (out of 300 possible points)
1, Colleen Rumore (Glastonbury, Conn.) 255.
2, Shari LeGate (Peyton, Colo.) 248.
3. Terry Bankey (Downey, Calif.) 233.
Skeet - Juniors (out of 300 possible points)
1, Junstin Williford (Loveland, Colo.) 281.
2, Jason Hosford (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 279.
3, Mark Weeks (Harrison Township, Mich.) 277.