(Featured photo is Sapulpa MCJROTC)
With just one week left in the regular season of the National Air Rifle League, teams will be vying for the top spots with postseason invites on the line now.
In the Sporter league, teams are vying for the final spots in their postseason tournaments, where 16 teams qualify for postseason play. Lafayette Gun Club (3 - 3) is 16th, and Pascagoula NJROTC (4 - 2) is 17th. West Valley MCJROTC, Bradley Central AJROTC, and Missouri Military Academy are close behind. These five teams are separated by only 4 points.
Precision Teams are a bit further apart, looking for the final spots into the Championship Tournament, where 8 teams qualify for postseason play. East Coweta MCJROTC (3 - 4) is in eighth place, and Sickles AFJROTC (4 - 0) is in ninth place over 11 points behind. Robinson Rifle Team and Hereford MCJROTC round out 11 and 12.
The Sporter and Precision Leagues culminates in a three week, eight team, single elimination tournament to determine the league champion. To qualify, teams must be a member of the prestigious Champions Division and be one of the top eight performing teams from the regular season.
In the Sporter Champions conference, there is a second “Invitational” tournament for teams seeded 9 through 16.
In the Distinguished and Elite Divisions, the top two teams from each conference get invited to compete for their respective conference title in a single postseason conference title game. In the Champions division only, conference titles are won based on regular season play only.
Zion Benton became one of two teams in the Sporter League with a 6 - 0 record after defeating Bradley Central in Week 7. Zion Benton has bye in Week 8, so it looks like they may be settled into 2nd place unless Jack C. Hays MCJROTC were to have a misstep in their final game against Waimea AJROTC. Norview NJROTC, the current 3rd place team, also has a bye for their final week of the regular season.
Grove City NJROTC gained their 3rd win of the season last week against Alaska-based team, Austin E. Lathrop AJROTC. Their final game of the regular season this week will be against Union Pines NJROTC.
Sapulpa MCJROTC took their 3rd win in a row last week, defeating Seneca Valley AJROTC by 16 points. This also made for Sapulpa's high score of the season and sets them up with a 5 - 1 record going into their final week. They will shoot off againsts Round Rock MCJROTC this week.
Everett Sportsman Junior Rifle Club gathered their 5th win last week by defeating C.T. Johnson AJROTC in Week 7, moving up into 3rd Place.
Everett just had their new Athena EST range installed during week 7, and, perhaps by no coincidence, shot their highest score yet this season by over 20 points. Their final match of the regular season will be against Lafayette Gun Club.
