Triumphant return: Grizzlies home after historic performance

The California Grizzly shooting team shows off their awards they received during the National Rifle and Pistol Championships in Ohio. The team members are: (from left) Brandon Bayer, 16, of Jamestown, Anthony Henderson, 19, of Sonora, Shelby Rosasco, 18, of Jamestown, David Lee Bahten, 20, of Jamestown (sitting), Bradley Pappageorge, 16, of Copperopolis, Kayla Swenson, 18, of Mi-Wuk and Chad Kurgan, 18, of Sonora. AMY ALONZO ROZAK/UNION DEMOCRAT

Early in their two-week stay on the southern shore of Lake Erie, members of the California Grizzlies Junior Service Rifle Team set national junior records in the National Trophy Infantry Team Match — the super-prestigious Rattle Battle — and the National Team Trophy Match, also known as the Minuteman Trophy.

The Grizzlies were the first junior team to win the Rattle Battle in the 107-year history of the championships, which are sanctioned by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and the National Rifle Association (NRA). With Anthony Henderson, of Sonora, serving as captain and Chad Kurgan, of Sonora, and David Bahten, of Jamestown, shooting, The Griz became the first civilian team to win the match since 1930.

Three trophies were presented to the Grizzlies in the aftermath — overall winner, top civilian team and top junior team.

Bahten captained and shot for the Minuteman team, which also included Kurgan. The two later were pinned with Nationally Distinguished Rifleman awards.

Also, Bahten made the President’s 100, coming in 23rd out of 1,262 civilian and military shooters; won the NRA National High Junior Championship and was 37th among all competitors; and won high junior in three matches, was second high master three times, and took fourth high master twice.

Kurgan won four high junior awards, three first master and one second, four third, one fourth and one fifth master.

The Grizzlies have left their paw prints all over Camp Perry for years. What is their formula for success?

“Practice, dedication, camaradierie as a team, and they like what they do,” said Connie Taylor, who has spent many a hot and humid summer day chaperoning the Grizzlies in the Upper Midwest. “And they have some excellent coaches — Robert (Taylor II) ... Jim O’Connel ... Dirk Seeley. They’re big supporters of the kids and they all get along just fine. The kids get a lot of support from the adults, and that helps a lot.”

The juniors weren’t finished, not by a long shot.

• In the Freedom’s Fire Match, Bahten and Kurgan helped the Grizzlies Berger team finish third among juniors, Brandon Bayer, of Jamestown, helped the Grizzlies Lead finish fifth, and Henderson helped the Grizzlies Surfers finish 15th out of 93 teams.

• In the NRA Whistler Boy, Bahten and Kurgan finished third; Bayer eighth with Blake Eames, of Lafayette; Henderson and Shelby Rosasco, of Jamestown, ninth; Kayla Swenson, of Mi-Wuk Village, 10th with Brittany Rhodes, of Vacaville; and Bradley Pappageorge, of Copperopolis, 13th with Zack Shpak, of Davis.

• Kurgan, Bahten, Henderson and Cheyanne Acebo, of Vacaville, took first master honors in the Rumbold Team Match; first expert honors went to Rosasco, Matthew Chezem, of Simi Valley, Joshua Lehn, of Lemoore, and James MacMillan, of Kentfield; and first sharpshooter honors went to Swenson, Jim Minturn, of San Diego, Rhodes and Pappageorge.

• Henderson finished third overall in the CMP-U.S. Marine Corps EIC Match. He also was high collegiate shooter and first master in that match, and was third master in another.

• Rosasco earned her first points toward Nationally Distinguished status; won one high junior award; took one first, one third, two fourths and two fifths in the expert class; and won eight high woman awards.

• Bayer earned Nationally Distinguished points by placing eighth out of 593 in the M-16 EIC rifle match, won won first sharpshooter award and took two third places.

• Pappageorge was third once and fourth once in the sharpshooter class.

• Swenson finished first five times in the marksman class, finished second and third once each, and claimed five high woman awards.