Horned Frogs end WVU's five week reign at No. 1

Fairfax, Virginia - West Virginia has been unseated by defending champions Texas Christian in the most recent Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association poll that now has the Horned Frogs back on top.

After dominating a four-team invitational at Ohio State and setting a school record for team aggregate at 4708, Texas Christian leaped from No. 3 to No. 1 in NCAA Rifle. WVU did not falter as they beat North Carolina State the same weekend, however TCU's big win at Ohio State was enough to propel them to first and end WVU's reign over the poll at five weeks.

More on the shakeups in NCAA Rifle ...

Nanooks jump three spots to #4 as Mountaineers hold on to #1

The top of the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association poll looks the same as it did two weeks ago as top-ranked West Virginia watches Kentucky and Texas Christian University trade spots again. The defending champion Horned Frogs, ranked No. 1 preseason, fell back a spot to West Virginia after the opener and have been battling with Kentucky for second ever since.

The Wildcats, themselves champions in 2011, began the season at No. 2 and shifted to No. 3 after the rise of West Virginia. In Week 3 they bumped Texas Christian only to find their standings swapped again by Week 4. Now in Week 5, the two have switched ranks again after Kentucky's win at North Carolina State.

More on NCAA Rifle standings ...

Are you a shooting coach? An instructor? Then you can help the Boy Scouts next July in Mount Hope

The 2013 Boy Scout Jamboree is right around the corner. Taking place at the brand new High Adventure Base just outside of Mount Hope, West Virginia, it appears they are in need. In need of coaches and instructors.

"We were contacted by officials from the Boy Scouts of America," said NRA Education & Training Director Bill Poole. "They are looking for USA Archery Level 1 Instructors, NRA Certified Instructors and Certified NRA Coaches to run what they tell me is the largest youth shooting sports event ever held in West Virginia."

Here's a bit from their formal announcement:

Shooting Sports promises to be a sensational section at the Jamboree as thousands of Boy Scouts and Venturers will experience numerous shooting sports activities. 

More on the Boy Scouts call for coaches and instructors ...

2012 NCAA national champions begin the new season at No. 1

After unseating the University of Kentucky for their second National Championship in three years, Texas Christian University is starting the 2012-2013 season at the head of the coaches poll. This is not uncommon for a team returning the majority of their players from the previous year. The Horned Frogs are bringing back four of the five shooters - including Olympian Sarah Scherer - that made up last year's winning team.

More on the upcoming NCAA Rifle season ...

NRA Foundation grant helps West Virginia high school realize marksmanship dream

Parkersburg, West Virginia - NRA Foundation grants help a number of people and programs. Out of these, one of the greatest benefits is supporting the shooting sports in local communities.

The Parkersburg South High School's Air Force Junior ROTC in Parkersburg, West Virginia is a great example. Two year ago the program became interested in starting a marksmanship team but had no available funds. After searching for options to help them realize their goal, officials finally put in for a NRA Foundation grant. The request fell into the hands of Steve DiBetta, chairman of the local Blennerhassett Friends of NRA committee, who did everything he could to help them out.

More on how NRA Foundation grants can help ...

Distinguished Experts in rifle, pistol and shotgun from California, West Virginia and Kentucky

NRA Youth Programs Coordinator Samantha Olsen sent us the following on this year's Isaacs Challenge Program winners — an acknowledgement of those who excel in the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program.

The Isaacs Challenge is made possible by the generous donation of the Isaacs family to the NRA Foundation. The Isaacs Challenge Program is designed to encourage individuals to expand their shooting experience and clubs to expand their shooting programs by providing an incentive to shoot several different shooting events in the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program.

There are individual and NRA club awards with the Isaacs Challenge Program. In the individual award category there is an award rifle for the individual who achieves the most Distinguished Expert (DE) ratings in a calendar year and also the Isaacs Challenge Certificate for each individual who achieves three or more Distinguished Expert ratings in a calendar year.

More on the Isaacs Challenge Winners ...

Williamsport, Pennsylvania - Sources tell me that there is a considerable lack of connectivity at our planned afternoon destination. That's been known to happen at some of our events that occur in the more rural locations. So just in case that proves to be true, we thought it best to preempt any delays by sharing a few more photos from our Electronic Target event at the the Peacemaker National Training Center in West Virginia.

Opened in 2011 by Cole McCulloch, Peacemaker boasts a 1,000 yard range, tactical ranges, shotgun ranges and just about any discipline you're looking to try. Thanks again for hosting the event guys.

More on NRA's West Virginia Electronic Target event ...

While in West Virginia for an NRA Electronic Target event, we had a chance to try out a CarbonX rifle from Wyoming's Gunwerks.

Gerrardstown, West Virginia - There's a sense of accomplished derived from hitting a target at 1,000 yards. Even more so if you make it into the ten ring. While I can't boast the latter, I did go five for five on the Peacemaker National Training Center's Patriot Range a few weeks ago in West Virginia. Full of vigor and pride, I approached the Center's President (Cole McCulloch) for information on the rifle.

"Don't ask me," said McCulloch. "Ask Mike there, he's the one who makes them."

Standing in the shadows, taking it all in, was Mike Davidson of Gunwerks. And he was smiling like a jack-o'-lantern.

"That's the LR1000. Liked that gun now, did you," he asked. Yes. Yes I did.

Seems Mike and his brother Aaron started the company about six years ago. A hobby that turned into a career, Gunwerks was quest to do just that ... make a gun that works.

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For this weekend's image rewind, we go back two years to the 2010 Patriot’s Path Memorial Day Shoot. Above is Samantha Olsen of NRA Youth Programs. Sam, as we call her, is a skilled shotgun shooter who competed that weekend for Team NRA.

Joined by Bill Poole (Director of Education and Training), Kristin Stoner (Office of Advancement Events Manager), Samantha Olsen and Andy Lander (Instructor Program Coordinator), Team NRA bested Team Remington for bragging rights in the inaugural event.