2016 Illinois Service Rifle Championship

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2016 Sherwood Coul Trophy Mark Aussieker

2016 Illinois Bliss Trophy Conspicuous Consumption Mark Aussieker, Konrad Powers, John Holliger, Jeff Marienthal

44 shooters from four states were treated to a beautiful day to shoot our state service rifle championship.

A 194 won the standing match for Konrad Powers but only on X's. John Roth and Mark Aussieker fired the same score but with lower x-count.

There were four 200's fired in sitting with Tim Klauer's 13X leading the pack. Junior Alex Vitous had 11X, John Holliger had 10X, and Kim Dobbs fired 6X.

Aussieker dropped a point in sitting but he still retained the overall lead. Holliger and Roth were both one point behind him with Klauer and Powers two points behind.

In rapid prone, just as in sitting, Vitous refused to shoot any nines. His 200 was the only one registered. LTC Jon Casillas, Aussieker, Jim Vaughn, Ken Mahl, and SFC Brian Rautanen each fired a 199.

Aussieker was now able to extend his slim lead to two points but it was Vitous that was now nipping at his heels. Roth was three points adrift with Powers and Holliger four points down from the leader.

Three shooters fired 198's at the 600 yard line but Holliger had 9X's to win the match followed by Rautanen, and Liam McKenna. Roth and Craig Zuidema each shot 197's.

No one was able to close the gap to Aussieker and he secured his first Sherwood Coul trophy as this year's state Service Rifle Champion. Just two points behind were Alex Vitous, John Holliger, and John Roth. Of these four, Vitous was the only one shooting with metallic sights.