LEXINGTON, Va. April 9, 2025 — The pistol club at Virginia Military Institute finished in 7^th place at the National Collegiate Pistol Championship held mid-March in Anniston and Talladega, Alabama.

The VMI contingent consisted of eight shooters including Chris Olsen ’25, Chase Boucher ’27, Jamie Palacio ’27, and Kate Patrick ’27, who competed as a four-person team; and Bill Gray ’27, Sofia Flemming ’28, Andrei Hipol ’28, and Tiffany Rock ’28 who competed as individuals. The club held a national rank of 10^th place going into the competition.

According to head coach Reese McCormick, there are normally three events in the competition: air pistol, sport pistol, and standard pistol. However, due to inclement weather the standard pistol competition was canceled.

“VMI placed 6^th in sport pistol and 11^th in air pistol with the combined scores putting us in 7^th place. This is the highest ranking VMI has ever achieved, and only the second time VMI has held a national ranking in pistol,” he proudly reported.  

Boucher, who led the team in scoring and is currently ranked 37^th nationally, confessed that his scores shooting as an individual were unexpected. “I improved my sport pistol record by nearly 70 points. As a team, I know we all did well.”

This was the third and final year for Olsen — who graduates in May — to compete with the team. He shared that it has been a privilege working with McCormick.

“We secured VMI’s first ever invitation to collegiate nationals in 2022, to being invited each year since. I am extremely proud that this year we managed to achieve a ranking of seventh overall with three top-50 individual placements. For myself, I’m happy to have achieved two top-50 rankings and holding VMI’s highest ever individual collegiate rankings for two consecutive years: 2023 and 2024.”

Eighteen colleges were represented at the championship, with 93 shooters competing. The Ohio State University was first place winner, followed by the U.S. Naval Academy in second, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in third.

Assisting in coaching the club this year are Robert Coleman, Norman Claytor, and Jan Downs. 

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE