VA SASP Teams Dominate In Virtual Match Series

Virginia’s Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) teams dominated the rimfire pistol divisions in the SASP National Virtual Match Series for the 2017-2018 season. The Virtual Match Series is open to all 235 SASP teams across the country whose athletes compete both as individuals and in squads. The competitions take place locally but the rankings are tallied nation-wide.

SASP was created by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation in 2013 and consists of youth ages 10 – college competing in pistol and rifle. Athletes shoot at five steel targets that are arrayed in four different stages while timed. SASP began in Virginia in 2015 when Team LoCo Motion (Round Hill) was established. In 2016, the Winchester Izaak Walton League established the WIWL Blue Ridge Bullets. Both teams received significant support from Friends of the NRA/NRA Foundation. Currently in the Commonwealth, three new teams are being established, two of are sponsored by the Young Marines and one by the US Naval Sea Cadets.

SASP teams compete in squads of four athletes but individual results are also recognized. In the Rimfire Pistol Intermediate (Middle School) Division, the WIWL Blue Ridge Bullets squad took first place with the Team LoCo Motion squad taking second. In the Rimfire Pistol Senior (High School) Division, the Blue Ridge Bullets fielded two squads which took first and second place with the Team LoCo Motion squad taking third.

At the individual level, virtual match standings are ranked across all divisions (Rookie, Intermediate-Entry Level, Intermediate-Advanced, JV, Varsity and Collegiate). The Commonwealth’s young ladies made an impressive showing with Lauren Creese of Team LoCo Motion taking 2nd place and Amelia Lunceford of the WIWL Blue Ridge Bullets taking 3rd place nationally. In the men’s division, Michael Soltis of Team LoCo Motion captured 3rd place in the national rankings.

Eliot Jardines, the SASP Virginia State Advisor stated, “We are very pleased with the results of the 2017-2018 SASP Virtual Match series. Virginia teams have come a long way in a span of a few short years and we are excited to see what the 2018-2019 season brings. Not only are we looking to build on our success in this series but also at SASP Nationals. Our goal this season is to help our two new Young Marines and one US Naval Sea Cadet teams get up and running to add them to the Commonwealth’s competitive roster.

The Scholastic Action Shooting Program now has two teams out of Round Hill, as well as teams in Winchester, Woodford and Mason Neck. As a means of introducing youth action shooting and youth development to more Virginia communities, SASP is looking to establish new teams. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the State Advisor at admin@locomotionfoundation.org to learn more about establishing a team, available funding and scholarship opportunities.