In a surprising upset, Laura Goetsch shot her way to the top of the pack, winning both the High Power Rifle and High Power Hunting Rifle Silhouette Championships. Goetsch dethroned previous Champion Agustin Sanchez, Jr., who had held both Championship titles since 2004.

Windy conditions presented a challenge at this year’s NRA National High Power Silhouette Championships, but the shooters rose to the occasion, making the fundamentals of marksmanship all the more important. Held August 6-8 at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico, a new Champion was crowned amid the wind.

Competing in High Power for the past nine years, Goetsch has won at the national level in Canada, but the 2009 High Power Silhouette Championships mark Goetsch’s first National titles in the United States.

“As my first win in the United States National Championships, I feel honored to win both High Power events,” said Goetsch.

In the High Power Rifle Silhouette Championship, an aggregate score of 92 out of 120 helped Goetsch outscore second place finisher Derek Greenaway who shot a 91. Former Champion Sanchez, Jr., took third with a score of 91. Although Greenaway and Sanchez, Jr., had the same score, the aggregate number of turkey targets a competitor hits breaks the tie.

Goetsch shot an aggregate score of 78 out of 120 in the High Power Hunting Rifle Silhouette Championship, while Eric Boos took second place with a score of 72. Shooting a 70, Enrique Kuess, Jr., clinched a third place finish.

In addition to her individual Champion titles, Goetsch was also named the Woman Champion in both events. During the Smallbore Silhouette Championships earlier in the week, Goetsch took third in the Smallbore Hunting Rifle Silhouette Championship. As part of the Belgrade Air Shooting Sports Team, Goetsch and teammates Cathy Winstead-Severin and Susan Peery took first place in the Smallbore Hunting Rifle Silhouette Team Championship, as well.

Next year’s High Power Silhouette Championships will be held in Ridgeway, Pennsylvania. For more information on Silhouette competition, contact NRA’s Competitive Shooting Division at 1-877-NRA-MATCH or visit www.nrahq.org/compete/dept-silh.asp, or email silhouette@nrahq.org.

2009 High Power Silhouette Championships Results

High Power Rifle Championship

National Champion: Laura Goetsch – 92
Second Place: Derek Greenaway – 91
Third Place: Agustin Sanchez, Jr. – 91
Woman Champion: Laura Goetsch – 92
Senior Champion: Lee O’Neil – 85
Super Senior Champion: Wayne Bowen Weems – 53
Junior Champion: P.J. Snider – 78
Intermediate Junior Champion: Kolby Rasmussen – 70
Sub-Junior Champion: Jorge Velasquez – 75

High Power Hunting Rifle Championship

National Champion: Laura Goetsch – 78
Second Place: Eric Boos – 72
Third Place: Enrique Kuess, Jr. – 70
Woman Champion: Laura Goetsch – 78
Senior Champion: Lee O’Neil – 63
Super Senior Champion: Wayne Bowen Weems – 50
Junior Champion: Kyler Monares – 52
Intermediate Junior Champion: Kolby Rasmussen – 59
Sub-Junior Champion: Rachel Rayment – 34