January 7, 2016

 

 

The Granbury Marine Corps JROTC rifle team is headed back to a regional competition. The Granbury High School and Crossland Ninth Grade Center cadets will make their third-straight appearance at the JROTC Regional Service Championships on February 17-19, 2016, in Anniston, Alabama.

 

The cadets qualified by shooting in a postal competition that gives all cadets who participate in air rifle marksmanship an opportunity to experience a national-level contest fired at their unit’s home range. In addition to providing the unit with a national ranking, results from this competition were used to select the JROTC unit teams and at-large individuals that were invited to participation in the national contest.

 

“We have raised the bar this year. Now we have our sights set on being the best team in the Marine Corps and making a run at the JROTC national title in March,” commented Col. Scott Casey, the Senior Marine Instructor. “It is impressive how far this team has come in a year. I’m also impressed with their level of dedication as they have been practicing since July with little time off. There is not a more dedicated group of kids at GHS.”

 

Leading the team is Kayla Hitshew, who turned in the match’s top performance finishing fifth out of 111 Marine JROTC shooters in the nation with a solid score of 292 out of 300.   Additionally, newcomer Trinity Hathaway, who has less than eight months on the squad, posted a season-high 285 qualifying her to attend her first service championship.

 

The top Granbury precision team is seeded second – only two points behind the top Marine team. Additionally, Granbury’s second squad is ranked third in the ten-state region.

 

In addition to Hathaway and Hitshew, GHS precision teams are represented by Cody Bogle, Freeman Hawker, Chris Hitshew, Kate Lambert, Tyler Morrissette, and Brittney Pinckard. Grant Kinser will compete at-large as an individual in the sporter category after receiving his first national bid.

 

“Regardless of the outcome, I’m proud of each of them. They have all grown into amazing athletes,” said Col. Casey.