By Rita Howell
Cadets from South Panola High School’s Air Force JROTC unit brought home the first place trophy from last weekend’s Air Force JROTC Air Rifle National Championship at the Civilian Marksmanship Center in Anniston, Ala.

The award means the SPHS students are national champions, the best marksmanship team among all Air Force JROTC students in the U.S. and at military bases around the world.
South Panola actually qualified three four-person teams for the national tournament, according to Col. Bob Mims, director of the SPHS JROTC program and coach of the air rifle team.
“We’re all one team,” Mims said. “They’re all champions.”

The team of Ashlyn Coyle, Alex Tamboli, Michaella Musselman and Angel Aguilar achieved the highest score from two days of competition last Friday and Saturday. They will represent the Air Force at the World Championship for JROTC units from all service branches next month at Port Clinton, Ohio.

In addition, Ashlyn Coyle earned the Junior Distinguished Shooter Gold Medal, the first from SPHS to achieve this honor, based on a compilation of her scores over a series of meets.
Claiming the second highest score in the weekend competition was South Panola’s Angel Aguilar.

Others competing in the weekend meet were Tamia Shegog, Caitlyn Hollingsworth, Ashley Bratcher, Kirsten Brock, Blake Barnett, Robbie Phillips, Robert Anderson, Andre McGee, Will Willis, Spencer Sutton, and Matt Moore.

Students fired air rifles at targets on an indoor range, from standing, kneeling and prone positions, similar to Olympic competitions.

In all, 28 teams had qualified to compete in the national finals, held in three locations last weekend.