Tallulah Falls’ rifle team member Joseph McGahee was recently invited to the Colorado Springs Olympic facility for both State Olympic Standing Air Rifle (SAR) and 3 Position Small Bore (SB), .22 rifle.
McGahee recently finished second in the State in Men’s Small Bore competing against college athletes.
“It is extremely difficult to get an invitation to this prestigious match that is used to award slots on the Olympic Team,” TFS rifle coach Tim Stamey said. “College coaches attend with their athletes that make it, and routinely use this match for scouting and recruiting high school athletes that also attain it. To have a program or to coach an athlete to this level is a defining factor in Rifle. TFS started this Rifle program in 2017 and in that short time we have had Samantha (Stamey) and now Joseph to rise to that level.”
McGahee won the Silver Medal in the State JO Men’s SB match as a high school junior, a rare feat for that competition.
“Joseph not only practices air rifle at school but he also comes to my private outdoor range to practice SB on the weekends,” Stamey said. “It doesn’t matter how cold or how hard the wind is blowing, he always shows up with a smile and determination.”
Joseph will be checking in at the Olympic Center on April 12 and will be finished with both disciplines on the 19th after shooting two matches each of SAR and SB.
– Staff reports