Smith & Wesson Congratulates Shooters on Successful 2008 Season
Smith & Wesson Congratulates Shooters on Successful 2008 Season Team Smith & Wesson Members Earn Multiple State, Regional, National and World Titles.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – -(AmmoLand.com)- Smith & Wesson Corp. announced that members of the company’s shooting team dominated the 2008 competitive shooting season, winning multiple individual and team titles. In all, Team Smith & Wesson members accounted for 38 state, 16 regional, 26 national and 14 world level competition titles. Smith & Wesson would like to congratulate and recognize each of the team members for their accomplishments throughout the 2008 season. Competing on behalf of Team Smith & Wesson were Jerry and Kay Miculek, Doug Koenig, Annette and Elliot Aysen, David Olhasso, B.J. Norris, Carl Bernsosky, Craig Buckland, Curt Nichols, Gordon Carrell, Jeff Degracia, and Gilbert Perez.
Jerry and Kay Miculek
As one of two husband and wife teams competing for Smith & Wesson, Jerry and Kay Miculek have become accustomed to standing in the winner’s circle, as was demonstrated throughout the 2008 season. Jerry, best known for his ability with a revolver, once again confirmed his dominance by adding a string of titles to his already illustrious career. During the 2008 season, Jerry won his 16th International Revolver Championship (IRC), 6th United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) National Revolver Championship, two U.S. Steel National titles, the American Handgunner World Shoot Off and Steel Challenge/World Speed Shooting Open Revolver World Champion titles and the USPSA 3-Gun National title. Jerry also captured divisional wins at the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) Indoor Nationals and at the IDPA Nationals event. At the 2008 Sportsman’s Team Challenge, Miculek joined with other Team Smith & Wesson members to capture the Industry Open Class title. His wife and teammate Kay Miculek also had a productive season, earning two state and regional level titles, four national level titles and three world level wins. Her honors include the High Lady Award at the United States Shooting Academy (USSA) Pro-Am match while also being named the High Lady at the U.S. Steel Nationals, American Handgunner World Shoot-off and at the Steel Challenge/World Speed Shooting Championships.
Doug Koenig
In May, Professional Shooter Doug Koenig began the season on a high note capturing his 11th National Rifle Association (NRA) National Action Pistol Championship. As the overall winner of the NRA’s 30th Bianchi Cup, Koenig has won more titles than any other shooter in the history of the event. Koenig captured a second title in June as part of the Sportsman’s Team Challenge before going on to win the 2008 Masters Shooting Championship. During the 23rd Annual Masters Championship, Koenig claimed his tenth consecutive Masters title since first competing in 1999. Koenig finished the season strong, winning the World Action Pistol title in New Zealand. His dominance of precision-based action shooting events is unparalleled by any other shooter in the world.
Elliot & Annette Aysen
The husband and wife team of Elliot and Annette Aysen also had a productive season, capturing five state level wins, two regional level wins, four national level wins and two world level wins as a couple. Elliot’s season was highlighted by being named the American Handgunner Stock Double Action Shoot Off Champion. During 2008, Annette was named the Ladies Champion in Iron Sighted Revolver Divisions at the IRC, Steel Challenge/World Speed Shooting Championships, USPSA Nationals and during the International Confederation of Revolver Enthusiasts (ICORE) Postal Match.
David Olhasso
Competing in both the Custom Defensive Pistol (CDP) division along with Iron Sight and Open Revolver divisions, Smith & Wesson Team member David Olhasso recorded numerous wins throughout 2008. In total, Olhasso captured ten state level wins, four regional level wins, three national level wins and three world level wins using a variety of Smith & Wesson firearms. Among his titles, Olhasso was named the Iron Sight Revolver Champion at the Steel Challenge/World Speed Shooting Championships. Olhasso also recorded wins at the ICORE International Postal Match, IDPA Nationals and at the IDPA Indoor Nationals.
B.J. Norris
As one of the youngest members of Team Smith & Wesson, B.J. Norris demonstrated that he has the necessary skills to be a contender in the highest levels of competition. During 2008, Norris earned two state level wins, one national level win and two world level victories. His productive season was highlighted by winning the Steel Master Division at the Steel Challenge/World Speed Shooting Championships. Norris currently holds three of the eight world records in Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) shooting.
Carl Bernosky
In August, Smith & Wesson Team Member Carl Bernosky took home top honors as the overall champion for the 8th time at the 2008 NRA High Power Rifle Championship Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. Using an AR-15 platform rifle with a Smith & Wesson M&P15 lower, Bernosky achieved a first place finish and successfully defended his title from the previous year. In addition, Bernosky also earned the NRA Civilian and NRA Match Rifle Championship titles. During the 2008 Bianchi Cup, Bernosky finished second overall behind World Champion Doug Koenig.
Craig Buckland and Curt Nichols
Continuing Smith & Wesson’s dominance in the revolver division, especially in the sport of IDPA, team members Craig Buckland and Curt Nichols recorded a combined nine state level wins, four regional level wins and two national titles during 2008. Buckland was named the Stock Service Revolver Champion at the IDPA Indoor National Championship while Nichols successfully defended his national Stock Service Revolver Champion title at the IDPA Nationals.
Gordon Carrell, Jeff Degracia and Gilbert Perez
Rounding out top finishes for Smith & Wesson were team members Gordon Carrell, Jeff Degracia and Gilbert Perez. Veterans of the competitive shooting circuit, each member added a number of prestigious wins in a variety of shooting disciplines. In 2008, Carrell recorded three state level wins and three regional level wins. Fellow teammate Degracia earned two state level wins while Perez captured three state level wins and one national level victory at the U.S. Steel Nationals.
“On behalf of Smith & Wesson, I would like to congratulate all of the members of Team Smith & Wesson on a tremendous season,” said Tom Kelly, Vice President of Marketing for Smith & Wesson. “We are very pleased to have such a world-class group of men and women, with a variety of talents and backgrounds, competing under the Team Smith & Wesson banner. Each member is a valued asset to our company and a great ambassador for the shooting sports.”
For more information regarding Team Smith & Wesson, visit the Smith & Wesson website at www.smith-wesson.com and click the Champions icon on the homepage.
About Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, a global leader in safety, security, protection and sport, is parent company to Smith & Wesson Corp., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of quality firearms and firearm safety/security products and parent company to Thompson/Center Arms Company, Inc., a premier designer and manufacturer of premium hunting rifles, black powder rifles, interchangeable firearms systems and accessories under the Thompson/Center brand. Smith & Wesson licenses shooter protection, knives, apparel, and other accessory lines. Smith & Wesson is based in Springfield, Massachusetts with manufacturing facilities in Springfield, Houlton, Maine, and Rochester, New Hampshire. The Smith & Wesson Academy is America’s longest running firearms training facility for law enforcement, military and security professionals. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com. For more information on Thompson/Center Arms, log on to www.tcarms.com.