Las Cruces High School Marksmanship Team Qualifies for Nationals

The Mayfield High School Air Force Junior ROTC marksmanship team has placed 15th out of all 850 Air Force Junior ROTC units in the world.

Team coach Maj. Ken Thalmann, a retired Air Force veteran, said this will qualify the team for the national service competition in late February in Anniston, Ala.

?This is the first year Mayfield has fielded a marksmanship (air rifle) team. A dedicated team of six students has been working diligently all year to accomplish this,? said Thalmann.

The team will send MHS juniors William Murphy VIII and Sydney Sullivant, along with freshmen William Bonsack, Justin Krebs, Joel Forbes and Derek Fernandez.

?The students have worked very hard and learned a tremendous amount in terms of self-discipline, focus, concentration and patience to make this happen,” said Thalmann.

The coach added that further success in marksmanship could lead to college scholarships and even a shot at a position on the U.S. Olympic shooting team.