The 2019 GHSA Riflery State Championships took place at the Pool International Shooting Complex at Fort Benning in Columbus on Saturday where Ware County won its third-consecutive team riflery title with a team score of 1162-68, edging East Coweta by one point. The victory marked the fourth title for Ware – 1997, 2017, 2018 and this year.
Leading the Gators was its star shooter Laci Jewell who set a new individual state record with a near perfect 298 of a possible 300 points. Jewell shot a perfect 100 in the prone position while adding a 99 in standing and a 99 in kneeling in her record-setting run.
Ben Smith helped Ware with a 291, Tyler Hanson shot a 288, Howard Cole had a 285-point performance and Bryce Young finished with a 284. East Coweta finished second to the Gators with an 1161-62 score led by Kristen Kanaskie’s 293 and Evelyn Reid’s 292. The Indians were in the hunt for their second riflery title after winning in 2000 and 2016. East Coweta’s effort in 2016 stood as a state record before Ware County claimed the record with last year’s 1169-point performance.
Upson-Lee finished third with an team total of 1147 led by Ana Maldanado’s 291 points. Grave Geldbach scored 290 points, Savannah Muse added 286 points, Eli Poddard finished with 280 points and Jackson Roddenbery had 274 points.
See the top-10 team results below.
GHSA State Rifle Championships Final Results
- Ware County -- 1162 Laci Jewell - 298 (State Record) Ben Smith – 291 Tyler Hanson – 288 Howard Cole – 285 Bryce Young -- 284
- East Coweta – 1161 Evelyn Reid – 292 Kristen Kanaskie – 293 Kinsley Hannon – 288 Taylor Thom – 288 Bo Saavedra -- 286
- Upson-Lee – 1147 Ana Maldonado – 291 Grave Geldbach – 290 Savannah Muse – 286 Eli Poddard – 280 Jackson Roddenbery -- 274
- Woodward Academy – 1146 Sydney Hallas – 291 Jacob Workman – 288 Manaphy Wang – 290 Alex Threlkeld – 277 Jamison Connors -- 255
- Carrollton Morgan Frank – 287 Taylor Berry – 286 Collin Grubbs – 285 Ben Bradley – 285 Thomas Harris – 281
- North Gwinnett – 1143 Matthew Herrington – 298 Caitlyn Miller – 288 Corina Fluker – 283 Andreea Contis – 283 Shasta Robinson -- 280
- Georgia Military Colin Haskins – 289 Stella Glover – 287 Luke Rutherford – 282 Caterina Knapp – 279 Johnathan Phillips -- 270
- Social Circle – 1132 Megan Townsend – 291 Ashley Clegg – 288 Ethan Baliles – 277 Jackson Davis – 276 Cole Thacker -- 276
- Northside-Columbus Kaya Smith – 283 Brandon Nicolay – 284 Elijah Hawkins – 286 Matthew Smith – 279 Mendez Samuel -- 274
- Cherokee – 1132 David Snyder – 291 Connor Walsh – 289 Ayden Steen – 278 Lexie Harn – 273 Nathan Kelley -- 272
*Top four scores in team final score
Individual Results
- Laci Jewell, Ware County, 4012. Anusha Pakkam, Roswell, 393.6 3. Moran Adams, Buford, 393.3
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