USA Shooting’s Finest Set to Participate in Upcoming Shooting Industry Masters

The Shooting Industry Masters is headed back to Rockcastle Shooting Center in Park City, Ky., July 19-22 and seven USA Shooting athletes are primed to join the shooting sports industry for this one-of-a-kind shooting event.

Owned and operated by FMG Publications, the Masters consists of three main competition stages – Handgun, Rifle and Shotgun. The Masters is a handgun, rifle, shotgun competition divided into two classifications: Industry and Open. The Industry class is for new to intermediate shooters, while the Open class is for professional and advanced shooters. Regardless of class, scores are not published to maintain the no-pressure, fun atmosphere of the Masters.  Celebrating its 10th anniversary as an industry-only shooting event, the Shooting Industry Masters has become one of the most popular matches in the shooting sports industry. This year’s event sold out more than two months before the first round will be fired.

“Being involved with the shooting industry is a dream job,” said Shari LeGate, Shooting Industry Masters event manager.  “Combing your vocation with you avocation isn’t a luxury that many folks have and those of us that do are really lucky.  However, for most of us, we’re so busy running the industry we don’t have time to participate in the joys of it, like shooting targets or learning how to shoot correctly.”

The Masters is owned and operated by USA Shooting partner/sponsor FMG Publications, publishers of GUNS Magazine, American Handgunner, American COP, Shooting Industry Magazine and eight special editions.

The 2012 Masters will again support National Shooting Sports Foundation’s First Shots program. The 2011 Masters drew a record-setting 370 shooters from 71 companies and organizations throughout the industry. The match raised $37,000 for First Shots, which brings the amount raised by the Masters for First Shots to $94,000 in three years.

Seven members of the USA Shooting Team will be at this year’s Masters, helping raise money for USA Shooting through the Masters’ Rent-A-Ringer program, and instructing beginning shooters in a Masters First Shots Orientation.  USA Athletes participating in the Shooting Industry Masters includes one Olympian, three National Team shotgun shooters, and three National Team rifle shooters.  Through the Rent-A-Ringer Program, teams may place bids to “rent” a USA Shooting Team member and ultimately support the organization that represents the U.S. around the world and in London this summer.

“We all need a little help now and then, especially when it comes to shooting,” said LeGate. “So, if you want to give your team an advantage and have an even better chance of taking home top honors, have a member of the USA Shooting Team shoot on your team.”

Athletes representing USA Shooting include:

•  Jake Turner (Richland, Wash.) – National Shotgun Team member (Trap); 2012 National Championship Bronze medalist; 2012 World Cup London Team; 2011 Pan American Team; 2010 World Championships Team.

• Collin Wietfeldt (Hemlock, Mich.) — National Shotgun Team member (Trap); 2012 National Championship Fourth-place finisher; 2011 World Clay Target Championship Team; 2010 Championship of the Americas Team

• Jaiden Grinnell (Port Angeles, Wash.)  — National Shotgun Team member (Skeet); 2012 National Champion (broke two National records on her way to winning the title); 2011 World Cup Chile, Bronze Medalist; 2011 World Cup Beijing Team; 2010 World Championships, Junior Silver Medalist

• Amy Sowash (Richmond, Ky.) — National Rifle Team member (Three-Position/Air); 2011 World Cup Sydney Silver Medalist (3 Position); 2010 Championship of the Americas, Bronze Medalist (Air); Multi-time National Championship medalist

• Matt Wallace (Fairbanks, Alaska) – National Rifle Team member (Three-Position); 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Bronze Medalist

• Brian Beaman (Selby, S.D.) National Pistol Team member; 2008 Olympian (finished fourth in Olympic Air Pistol event); 2010 Championships of the Americas, Gold Medalist

• Alex Callage (Columbia, Md.) – 2009 National Junior Champion in Free, Air and Standard Pistol; 2008 National Junior Championships silver medalist in Free and Air Pistol; 2008 National Junior Championships bronze medalist in Free Pistol

LeGate herself is a two-time national champion and World Cup medalist, was a member of USA Shooting’s National Team in Women’s Skeet for 12 years, winning numerous titles and medals. She has been hired by NBC to be the shooting sports analyst for the 2012 London Olympic Games after serving in a similar capacity for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Hot Caliber will be creating several 10th anniversary Shooting Industry Masters items (tie pins, lapel pins, necklaces, etc). These collectible Items will be sold at the Masters with all the net proceeds being donated to USA Shooting.

“This has become simply the can’t-miss event on the industry calendar year-in and year-out,” said Buddy DuVall, Executive Director of the USA Shooting Team.  “Attending this event supports our overall industry relationships as well as providing a tremendous opportunity for our athletes to teach, compete and interact with the industry leaders.  FMG’s support of the USA Shooting Team and their willingness to incorporate us into their program is a great advantage for our organization.”

Sponsors for the event include many USA Shooting partners such as:  Cabelas, Howard Leight, Benchmade, Colt, GunBroker.com, Smith & Wesson and Ruger.

For more information on the 2012 Shooting Industry Masters, contact Elizabeth O’Neill atelizabeth@shootingindustry.com or 1-888-315-3641.