Following its record-breaking 2013 season, the Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) kicked off its 2014 season with the Southwest Winter Regional Championship, hosted by the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets Marksmanship Unit and sponsored by GLOCK. The match was held February 1 at the Gunsmoke Shooting Range in Snook, Texas. Kevin Jimmerson and Chuck Jones served as Match Directors and were assisted by local action shooters as Safety Officers. This match featured many special events and guests, including GLOCK spokesperson, R. Lee Ermey “Gunny” as well SgtMaj Gene Overstreet, 12th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (Ret.). The regional started with a message from Ermey as his famed character GySgt Hartman from the movie Full Metal Jacket. This was followed by a welcome by BG Joe E. Ramirez, Jr., USA (Ret) Commandant, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets and a live fire demonstration by the Texas A&M Parson’s Mounted Calvary and their famed field artillery piece, The Spirit of ’02. Twenty-two squads from Massachusetts to Florida joined teams from the Lone Star State to compete in this first match of the year. The Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Marksmanship Unit (CCMU) Maroon Squad was the top centerfire Collegiate squad. The University of Florida Gators took 2nd Place, and Texas A&M Pistol Team 12th Man Squad earned 3rd. In the Collegiate Rimfire Division, the Texas A&M CCMU Maroon Squad took home the Gold medal. The CCMU White Squad won Silver, and the Florida Gators took the Bronze medal. In the Senior Centerfire division, the South Texas Shooters Squad 1 placed 1st with Holyoke (Mass.) Revolver Club Steel Shooters coming in 2nd. The Dripping Springs (Tex.) High School FFA Shooting Team Squad #1 took 3rd. South Texas Squad 2 took 1st in the Senior Rimfire division, the South Texas Squad 1 came in 2nd , and Dripping Springs Squad 4 took 3rd. Dripping Springs Squad 3 took Gold in the Junior Centerfire Division. In Junior Rimfire, Red Dawn Junior Marksmanship Academy Strikers Squad won 1st place honors, with South Texas Squad 1 taking 2nd and Dripping Springs Squad 5 coming in 3rd. For the first time, SPP recognized Individual High Overall (HOA) winners. In the Junior Division, Michael Machner (South Texas Shooters) took Rimfire HOA, and Wyatt Williamson (Dripping Springs High School FFA Shooting Team) won top honors in Centerfire. In the Senior Division, Paddy Sullivan (Holyoke Revolver Club Steel Shooters) and Tanner Wilson (South Texas Shooters) took the honors in Centerfire & Rimfire respectively. The College Division saw Matt Hawes (Texas A&M CCMU), Centerfire and Jason Cusack (Texas A&M CCMU) taking HOA. “This was a great start to 2014 for SPP. This is the fourth consecutive regional where we saw growth in attendance”, said Scott Moore, SPP National Director. “In addition to that, many athletes had personal best scores, and it’s only the first match of 2014! We’re really excited to see what the scores will be by summer.” SPP is supported, in part, by founding partners GLOCK, Smith & Wesson, Action Target, and Larry and Brenda Potterfield of Midway USA. Additional partners include Atlanta Arms & Ammunition, Browning, GT Targets, NextLevel Training, PACT Timers, Pro Ears, Remington Arms, Rudy Project, Tactical Solutions, and Winchester Ammunition, among others. The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is responsible for all aspects of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) across the United States, including participant registration, coaches, state coordinators, state and national championships, promotion, communications, websites, public relations, and growth strategies. SCTP and SPP are youth development programs, originally developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), where adult coaches and volunteers use shooting sports to teach and to demonstrate sportsmanship, responsibility, honesty, ethics, integrity, teamwork, and other positive life skills. To learn more about SCTP or SPP call (419) 794-9924 or visit our website at www.sssfonline.com. For information, contact: Sherry G. Kerr, 256-333-0234 or skerr@sssfonline.com.