American Legion Post 435 Junior CMP History

June 1996 - December 2004

The American Legion Post 435 Junior CMP club was formed in June of 1996; we did not have many members and were just learning the ropes. However, our Juniors were motivated and practiced throughout the summer.

In 1997, the Junior CMP club was in its second year, we had 6 Juniors compete in 2 club matches.

During 1998, we grew to 14 members who competed in three matches. We had enough growth to consider practicing in the winter and contacted the Army National Guard in Bloomington. They allowed us to use their range for winter practice that year.

Throughout 1999, we had a steady group who practiced all summer, with 28 Juniors competing in seven matches. With the interest shown in continuing practice during the winter, we contacted the Burnsville Pistol Range and secured two nights a month starting in December.

During March of 2000, a team of four Juniors competed in the Minnesota State Championship at Grand Rapids, MN. Three of our members competed in the NRA Indoor Sectionals. During the summer, we had 27 members compete in seven matches. We continued our winter practice twice a month at the Burnsville Pistol Range.

Starting in the spring of 2001, we had four members compete in a practice Junior Olympics match and four compete in the Junior Olympics held at Creten-Durahm Hall. One of the Juniors took the Bronze medal in her class. We also had one team of four Juniors compete in the Minnesota State Championship at Grand Rapids, MN, and three compete in the NRA Indoor Sectionals. In 2001, we also began competing in air rifle matches; one Junior member, Bethann, was qualified to advance to Atlanta in June to compete in the NRA national air rifle match. During the summer, we had 14 Juniors compete in small-bore matches.

For the 2002 season, seven Juniors competed in air rifle and six in small bore at the Junior Olympics at Creten-Durahm Hall. At the NRA Indoor Sectionals we had two teams (four Juniors per team) each for air rifle and small-bore at Grand Rapids, MN. We have shot an American Legion Postal Match with ten juniors and a National Guard Postal Match with seven Juniors competing. At the end of March, we shot in the Minnesota State Championship for small-bore at Grand Rapids, MN and the State Championship for air rifle in April at Blaine, MN. We had six Juniors signed up for each of these matches. New for 2002, we are practicing air rifle two nights a month at the Richfield American Legion Post 435 basement along with the two nights a month at the Burnsville Pistol Range. We still have the summer session and more matches scheduled.

Our Sporter Air Rifle Team won the Minnesota State Championship in April at Blaine. They will be going to Atlanta at the end of June 2002 for the National Championship.

At the National Junior Olympic Three Position Air Rifle Championships June 26-27, 2002, our Junior team placed 6th of 12 for club teams and 13th of 35 scholastic and club teams combined. 13th in the nation is a very impressive showing for our first National Championship. Keely Stankey placed 24th, Jessica Wakefield placed 60th, Tyler Sheeley tied for 80th and Danielle Cagney was 114th of 201 Juniors competing.

During the 2002 summer competitions, we had 3 Juniors obtain expert, 350 points or better out of 400 possible. Keely Stankey had expert scores in 3 of 6 matches, Bethann Cagney had expert scores in 2 of 4 and Jessica Wakefield had an expert score in 1 of 4 matches.

At the 2003 Junior Olympics, we had 8 Juniors compete, 6 in air-rifle and small bore and 2 in just the small-bore match. We held the American Legion Air Rifle Three Position Postal Match February 8th, 2003 and based on last years results we should be sending 2 of our Juniors to the Nationals and our team won the State/region championship. We had an outstanding all female team, Jessica, Bethann, Danielle and Keely, that competed in the NRA sectionals, National Guard Postal match, American Legion Postal and the State Championships placing first and qualifying for 5 National Championships. At the National Championships, we placed 4th or better and after a very close final, Keely Stankey was the youngest person ever to win first place in the National Guard Championship.

For the year 2004, among the major matches we competed in were the Junior Olympics, NRA Sectionals, American Legion Postal, American Legion invitational and the State Championships. At the State Championship Danielle won the Gold, Keely silver, Bethann Bronze and Brad won the menís bronze medal. Danielle Qualified for the American Legion individual National Championship and placed 6th in the nation. At the National Championship, our team placed 6th overall in the nation.

In the past three years, two of our Juniors have attained the top honor in marksmanship; Junior Air Rifle Distinguished they are Keely Stankey and Danielle Cagney. Two of our Juniors have reached the Silver Distinguished level, Jessica Wakefield and Bethann Cagney.

With the short history of the American Legion Post 435 CMP Junior Club, you can see that they have trained hard, grown in size and are representing the American Legion Post 435 around the state of Minnesota and parts of the country in a very visible, honorable way.

Sincerely,

Brian J. Wakefield

President American Legion Post 435 CMP Club

on Post 435 CMP Club