AFA Marksman Honored as a NRA Collegiate All-American
3/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Rifle
March 20, 2009
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. - The Academy's Tom Chandler, a sophomore from Oak Harbor, Wash., was honored by the NRA following the NCAA Rifle Championships as a 2009 smallbore rifle All-American, second team. For the season, Chandler averaged a 574.15 in smallbore and his air rifle average was 534.
"Tom is determined to get an air rifle All-American award in 2010 and is already preparing," said head coach Launi Meili. "Earning All-American status is an incredible honor because you have to shoot well all year in order to achieve and receive it, so it celebrates a whole season's worth of good performances. I'm so happy we have at least one team member at that level, as it's easier for others to follow when they see how it's done."
The first Collegiate All-Americans were selected in 1936. This program was initially open only to men, and coaches nominated their shooters for the honor. Although women did shoot in college at the time, they typically competed on women's teams. In its first year of existence, the NRA College All-American Program, which featured first and second teams of 10 members each, honored representatives from 12 colleges and universities. Members of the coveted first team were called "Golden Bullets."
In the 2009 National Collegiate Men's Rifle Championships, Chandler finished in 28th place with a smallbore score of 570/600. The NRA sponsors the Collegiate All-American Program.
