An Olympian is hosting an air rifle clinic this summer in South Kitsap.
Olympian Sommer Wood announced that the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Junior Rifle Camp is July 7-9 at John Segwich Junior High School, 8995 SE Sedgwick Road.
Wood, camps and clinic coordinator for CMP, visited the South Kitsap School District in January, according to Amy Miller, SKSD communication director.
Wood, a member of the U.S. national rifle team, started in competitive shooting while attending Clemson University. She competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
Wood, a native of Greer, S.C., serves as the director of the Civilian Marksmanship Program camps and clinics where she works with Olympic-style competition — primary air rifles. She also works as a documentary photographer.
Wood said the last time a CMP rifle clinic was held in the Pacific Northwest was in 2012 at Madras, Ore.
“We have never had a camp or clinic in Washington,” Wood said. “I have been wanting to schedule something in the area, because we have had several requests from teams in the state.”
Wood said she was contacted by Master Gunnery Sgt. Mark Brosnan of South Kitsap High School last fall.
“Participating in competitive shooting sports develops discipline and focus that is directly related to academic success,” said Brosman, a retired Marine master gunnery sergeant and marksmanship team coach for the South Kitsap Navy Junior ROTC. “We are looking to educate the community about shooting sports and are actively seeking students to join our program.”
Wood said she looked at the location and dates Brosman had available to fit for our 2014 schedule and started planning the event.
“There are many high school teams in the area that CMP can reach,” Wood said. “Port Orchard’s proximity to both Seattle and Olympic National Park would make this an attractive clinic for athletes from outside of the region.”
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is the sanctioning authority for shooting sports at the high school level. Air rifle competitions are conducted at both the regional and national level. Competitive shooters from all over the U.S. vie for spots in tournaments.
For more information on competitive marksmanship, visit online at www.odcmp.com/Clubs/STAssoc.htm or contact Brosnan at 360-874-5800.
The junior air rifle camps are a summer program conducted each year around the country to teach intermediate and advanced rifle marksmanship skills to junior shooters through exercises and demonstrations.
There are three different training programs provided by CMP over the summer, including a one-week, three-position air rifle Camp, a three-day advanced standing camp and several small outreach clinics that provide three days of three-position air rifle training to areas of the country not traditionally reached by the CMP camp program.
All of the CMP camps are heade also d by counselors from some of the top NCAA rifle teams in the country. Many counselors are alumni of the rifle camps, having attended as juniors themselves.
Last year, a record-breaking total of 700 participants attended the camps nationwide.
The three-position camps and clinics are geared toward high school-age athletes with at least one year of air rifle competition experience.
