Basa takes fifth in rifle meet

By Todd Mansfield
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

At 10 a.m. on Jan. 20 Mark Basa got into the prone position and started his attempt to make it to the Junior Olympics in the smallbore (.22 caliber rifle) competition.

"It is definitely a challenge to beat out all of the people that are trying to make it to the Junior Olympics," said Basa, 18, a freshman biology and chemistry major from Chicago, Ill.

The Northfield Junior Rifles were host of the 2001 Junior Olympic tryouts for Vermont to award the best shooter of each state in the country.

"We have been running the tryouts for about 15 years," said Jack Baroffio, head coach of the Northfield Junior Rifles from Northfield, Vt.

About 10 years ago the Junior Olympics was opened to college students, Baroffio said. "They used to only for high school students, but then they let college students shoot for score only."

In order for a person to compete in the JORC (Junior Olympic Rifle Championships) they must be 20 years old or younger.

As residents of Vermont, shooters must shoot a minimum score in each age category in order to be invited to shoot in the National Junior Olympics held in Colorado Springs, Col.

Norwich University had three students shoot in this year's Junior Olympic tryouts on Jan. 20: Jason Nutter, Brian Knutson, and Basa all competed under the junior category

In order to qualify as at-large shooters, not as resident shooters, they had to shoot a score of 565 out of 600. If shooters are still in high school, the qualifying score is lower, 525 out of 600, in the junior category, Baroffio said.

Because those competing were all college age, they were required to shoot as at-large shooters, "which is a higher score to qualify," said Candy Mansfield, Assistant Coach of the Northfield Junior Rifles of Northfield, Vt.

"This puts college shooters at a disadvantage," Mansfield said, "because they have to shoot the higher score to be invited to shoot in Colorado, even if they are residents here in Vermont."

Andy Morrison of Essex Junction, Vt., won the match with the score of 565 shot.

The Norwich shooters did well during the match, having two people in the top 10 of 20 competitors.

Basa led the way for Norwich shooting with a 543, finishing in fifth place followed by Knutson with a 542 in sixth. Nutter shot a 503 and finished in 13th place.

"I felt that I shot pretty well," Nutter said, "although I think that I can do a lot better."

Even though this match was not considered a college match, all three Norwich shooters said that shooting was a good experience builder.

"I feel that if these kids are better than me and have more experience then me, it is just good competition," Basa said.

There is an advantage for the junior shooters to shoot with college students, Baroffio said.

"It is interesting to watch the coaching they have had. One of the college shooters was doing some yoga; that is something you don't generally see," Baroffio said. "Whatever gets their head screwed on straight is what you want to do."

The National Junior Olympics will be held on March 29 through April 3. Those that competed in the qualifier for each state will be notified whether they have been invited by March 1.

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