A team of nationally ranked junior competitive shooters includes a Normal Community West High School student.
Speaking on the 21st Tuesday, 17-year-old Jaden Thompson represented the Central Illinois Precision Shooters (CIPS).
Thompson ranked 5 out of 189 in the intermediate junior precision air rifle position category at a recent NRA sectional.
She said competition shooting is a hobby.
“I think people hould just know this is a pastime sport for some people and then a regular sport for some people," Thompson said. "It’s not anything bad or harmful.”
In a time of heightened gun sensitivity, Thompson said her sport is not harmful.
“This isn’t like bang bang rifles," she said. "These are pellet rifles and 22-rifles, so really they can’t cause much harm unless you put the wrong person behind them.”
CIPS ranked 5 and 7 in two intermediate junior precision air rifle shooting categories. Thompson scored among the highest on her team in both categories.
Thompson said it's kind of cool for a moment when she is on the shooting range a couple spots away from an Olympian, but then she just focuses on her own targets. She hopes to compete at the Olympics someday.