just recently won the gold medal at the Italy World Cup in men’s three-position rifle. “It’s always an honor to represent the Army and your country at the Olympics,” said Parker. McPhail points out
that while seven
guys are going to the Olympics, it took the entire unit to get them there. “It shows how good the unit is. It stems from the commander all the way down to the low- est private. Our gunsmiths are truly world- class and they give us a huge advantage. There won’t be much downtime before
the Olympics for the Ft. Benning shoot- ers. Some will compete in Italy and attend nationals in Colorado. After a brief layover at Benning, the team will go to Copenha- gen, Denmark to train. Not all the Columbus Olympic shoot-
ers are soldiers. Jonathan Hall, a senior at Columbus State University, will also be traveling to London and will compete in men’s 10-meter air rifle. He is one of three brothers who shoot. Joseph, who is stationed at Fort Benning with USAMU, competed in the trials in small bore but was bested by a Fort Benning teammate. Both Halls went to Jacksonville State
University in Alabama where they started a marksmanship team. Jonathan went on to win NCAA gold and set two records. He transferred to CSU as a junior major- ing in business. He also works two jobs and says he couldn’t do it without a great family support system. A CSU assistant coach, Jamie Gray, will
also be competing. Gray will have two chances to bring home the gold as she is competing in the 10-meter air rifle event and the 50-meter three-position competi- tion. In 2008, Gray competed in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, just missing out on a medal in the 10-meter air rifle event, coming in fourth. Jonathan Hall says his biggest challenge
will be keeping the pressure down since, he says, not only is his family expecting a lot, but so is his country. “I’m looking forward most to being able to stand on that range knowing that I am one of two people there (competing in 10-meter air rifle) to rep- resent this country,” he says. Of course he adds that standing on the podium hearing the national anthem play would be even sweeter. C
2012 OLYMPIANS
Sgt .1st Class Eric Uptagrafft - Men’s Rifle Prone. Second Olympics Staff Sgt. Michael McPhail - Men’s Rifle Prone. First Olympics Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond - Double Trap. First Olympics
Sgt. Glenn Eller - Double Trap. Fourth Olympics. 2008 Gold Medalist
Sgt. Vincent Hancock - Men’s Skeet. Second Olympics. 2008 Gold Medalist Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker - Three Position (3P) Rifle. Fourth Olympics Sgt. 1st Class Josh Olson - Air Rifle and Rifle Prone. Paralympics Jonathan Hall - Men’s 10m Air Rifle. First Olympics
Jamie Gray - Women’s 10m Air Rifle, 50m 3-position. Second Olympics
August 2012
Columbus and the Valley
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