AMU Soldiers Take Home Multiple Awards At Nationals

by Ammoland June 22, 2009

AMU Soldiers Take Home Multiple Awards At Nationals
By Michael Molinaro
USAMU PAO

FORT BENNING, Ga.--U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Soldiers Sgt. 1st Class Eric Uptagrafft (left), Sgt. Michael McPhail (center), and Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker (right), swept the top three spots in the Men's 50m Prone event June 20 at Pool International Shooting Complex. McPhail won the gold medal, followed by Uptagrafft and Parker in the final competition of the week-long U.S. Shooting National Rifle and Pistol Championships at Fort Benning. (Photo by Michael Molinaro, USAMU PAO)

United States Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU)

FORT BENNING, Ga.— Soldiers with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit stood tall during the U.S. Shooting National Rifle and Pistol Championships June 13-20, collectively winning six gold medals during the week-long event.

International Pistol team member Sgt. 1st Class Daryl Szarenski took home two gold’s, winning the 10m Air Pistol event with a score of 1248.1 and the 50m Free Pistol event with a score of 1194.3.

Szarenski’s teammate, Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Rose, compiled more hardware for his trophy case. Rose won the gold medal in the 25m center fire event with a score of 1170 and gold at the 25m standard fire event with a score of 1129. Rose finished behind Szarenski in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol to add a silver medal to his collection.

The AMU’s International Rifle Team dominated the competition. In the Men’s 50m three-position event, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker won first place with a score of 2440.2. He was followed by teammates Sgt. Michael McPhail and his score of 2423.8, and Sgt. 1st Class Eric Uptagrafft with a score of 2416.5.

The same three Soldiers swept the field again in the Men’s 50m prone. McPhail won top honors this time, scoring 1298.5 to earn himself a gold medal. Uptagrafft was next with a score of 1295.2, finishing ahead of Parker by .1, who got the bronze with his score of 1295.1.

International Pistol teammates Spc. Brad Balsley and Pfc. Sean Ragay fared extremely well during the Nationals as both collected multiple medals. In the Men’s 25m Rapid Fire event, Balsley took the silver with a score of 1338.4 while Ragay won the bronze after a score of 1315.6. Balsley hung on for the silver in the Men’s 25m Standard fire, with his score of 1128 just besting Ragay’s score of 1124. Ragay added another bronze after finishing third in the Men’s 25m center fire event and a score of 1164.

Three more AMU Soldiers were awarded silver medals for their efforts this past week: Staff Sgt. Kelly Dove scored an 1180 in the Women’s 50m prone; Staff Sgt. James Henderson scored an 1193.4 50m free pistol; and Staff Sgt. John Ennis fired an 1165 in the Men’s 25m center fire.

With the successful month of June coming to a close, Soldiers are now preparing to continue their winning ways as a multitude of National and International championships await them in July and August.

FORT BENNING, Ga.--Spc. David Sprecher, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, fires on his target during the Men's 50m prone finals June 20 at Pool International Shooting Complex. Sprecher and his AMU International Rifle and Pistol teammates competed in the U.S. Shooting National Rifle and Pistol Championships last week at Fort Benning, earning a stack of medals. (Photo by Michael Molinaro, USAMU PAO)

FORT BENNING, Ga.--U.S. Army Marksmanship Soldier Sgt. Hank Gray competes in the finals of the Men's 10m Air Rifle Finals June 16 at Pool International Shooting Complex. Gray is a member of the USAMU's International Rifle team that competed in the U.S. Shooting National Rifle and Pistol Championships at Fort Benning. (Photo by Michael Molinaro, USAMU PAO)

FORT BENNING, Ga.--Pfc. Sean Ragay, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, puts rounds into the chamber of his pistol moments before the U.S. Shooting National Championships' 25m Rapid Pistol Final at Phillips Range. Ragay took home a bronze medal in the event. (Photo by Michael Molinaro, USAMU PAO)

About USAMU:
The USAMU’s mission is to raise the standard of marksmanship proficiency and combat readiness throughout the Army by sharing knowledge gained from competing and winning in national/ international competitions, research and development and advanced training programs while enhancing the Army’s recruiting effort through an active public information and public relations program. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Michael.Molinaro@usaac.army.mil or www.USAMU.com . The U.S. Practical Shooting Association is a nonprofit membership association affiliated with the International Practical Shooting Confederation, which is comprised of approximately 67 nations.