The Grove City High School Navy JROTC Rifle Team, also known as the Grove City Rifle Team, has achieved unprecedented success this year, earning top honors across multiple competitions. Their outstanding performances have secured their place in the prestigious Navy JROTC Rifle National Championship, to be held in Alabama in February 2025.
“This year, many new students joined the team who love the sport,” said Jack Bowyer, a senior at Grove City High School. “[The competition in] Alabama is everything you dream about. The hope is to reach the podium at the competition. It’s definitely going to be tough, but if we can pull it off, it will be a very successful weekend.”
Jack (center) is a three-year Rifle Team member who plans to pursue a career as an Army helicopter pilot.
Leaving their Mark in Area 14 Competitions
Competing against schools across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia, the Grove City Rifle Team showcased its skill and depth in the Area 14 Secretary of the Navy Marksmanship Postal Championship on December 10, 2024:
- Team Awards
- Team 1: 1st Place
- Team 2: 3rd Place
- Team 3: 4th Place
- Individual Awards
- Overall:
- Sebastian Anthony: 1st Place
- Caleb Griffin: 3rd Place
- Kneeling Position:
- Caleb Griffin: 1st Place
- Sebastian Anthony: 2nd Place
- Standing Position:
- Makalya Kershaw: 1st Place
- Lindy Amlin: 2nd Place
- Austin Hunter: 3rd Place
- Overall:
Most recently, on Friday night (January 10), the team also took back the “Hoover Cup” in a friendly with Grove City Christian School after five years (pictured below) by a score of GCHS 989 to GCCS 836.
Orion National Sporter League Navy Conference Championship
In another highlight of their season, Grove City Rifle Team 1 defeated Stony Point Navy JROTC from Texas, with a team score of 2201-2154, to claim the Orion National Sporter League Navy Conference Championship. The team finished the season with a strong 5-3 record, capping their performance by breaking a team record with an impressive 1101 score during competition.
“This is the best team. They’ve broken so many records this year, and their focus, determination, attention to detail, and discipline have gotten them to this point,” said Commander Dustin Martin. “This is one of the many extracurricular activities cadets can participate in through the JROTC program, and one of the exciting aspects of marksmanship is the applied skills training it provides students, especially those considering a future in the military.”
Looking Ahead to Nationals
The team’s achievements this season mark them as one of the top Navy JROTC rifle teams in the country. Their participation in the upcoming National Championship in February is not only a testament to their skill but also to their hard work and dedication.
Congratulations to the Grove City Rifle Team on their incredible accomplishments this year. Their success reflects the strength and commitment of Grove City High School’s NJROTC program.
Best of luck to these Greyhounds next month in Alabama and congratulations on a successful season thus far!
SW Insider 