CAMP PERRY, Ohio – Every year, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) facilitates the ceremonial First Shot Ceremony – a proper opening to the annual Nationwide Matches at Camp Perry. To formally begin the month-long sequence of rifle, pistol and air gun occasions, a conventional “first shot” is simulated on the historic Camp Perry ranges by a prestigious member of the marksmanship neighborhood.
For 2024, the CMP is honored to announce Olympian, Air Power Academy Rifle Head Coach and CMP Board Member Launi Meili because the chosen First Shot Speaker.
The rifle Meili will use for the standard first shot is a gold-plated 1907 Normal that was offered to her on the 1993 SHOT Present by Dieter Anschütz, proprietor/president of Anschütz Rifles. It was personally made for Meili after successful the gold medal in Barcelona in 1992 and has been on show on the USA Taking pictures Corridor of Fame.
The 2024 First Shot Ceremony will mark the rifle’s first-ever firing.
About Launi Meili – A Celebrated NCAA Coach:
Launi Meili is the present head coach of the NCAA Air Power Academy Rifle Workforce – a title she has held for over 15 years. Below her path, the staff has certified for the NCAA Nationwide Championship for 9 straight seasons and has positioned throughout the prime 5 groups 5 separate instances, together with a 3rd place end in 2023 and an air rifle nationwide title in 2019 – the primary in program historical past. She additionally helped prepare freshman Scott Rockett to this system’s first NCAA air rifle championship title.
Earlier than arriving on the Air Power Academy, Meili served as head coach at Nebraska for 5 seasons – even main the Cornhuskers to a No. 2 nationwide rating throughout the 2004-05 season and a fifth place end at NCAA Nationals in 2007. She additionally coached 21 All-American people and helped earn seven younger girls locations on the U.S. Growth Workforce. For her achievements, she claimed coach of the yr honors in 2006.
Revered Athlete and Mentor:
As a competitor, Meili was a member of the U.S. Taking pictures staff for 10 years and took part in two Olympics Video games, two Pan American Video games and a World Championship – occurring to provide three world information, three Olympic information, a world staff championship and an Olympic gold medal for three-position smallbore rifle in Barcelona in 1992. Along with her win in Barcelona, she turned the primary American girl to ever win gold in smallbore. Having competed in air rifle and smallbore in each Barcelona and the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, she stays the one girl to take action at two separate Video games.
She retired from aggressive taking pictures in 1992 and spent the subsequent 10 years teaching junior and elite athletes at clinics and camps nationwide. She was additionally the U.S. Nationwide Rifle Workforce assistant coach from 1997 to 2000 and helped produce the Worldwide Coach Certification Program – the best stage of teaching credential acknowledged by USA Taking pictures and the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation.
Meili was inducted into the Worldwide Taking pictures Corridor of Fame throughout the 2004-05 season for her excellent dedication to the game.
Training and Past:
Moreover, Meili is a scholar – incomes her grasp’s diploma in sports activities psychology from the College of Idaho in 2001 and a bachelor’s in dietary and train physiology from Japanese Washington College. She has additionally authored a guide, “Rifle: Steps to Success,” and developed a psychological coaching workshop for athletes, coaches and enterprise personnel within the U.S. and Japan.
In more moderen years, Meili joined the CMP Board of Administrators and has since been basic within the continued growth of youth applications.
The 2024 First Shot Ceremony will likely be held Monday, July 15, at 4:30 p.m. on Camp Perry’s Rodriguez Vary. Together with an tackle from Meili, the occasion will characteristic outstanding visitors, flyovers from genuine World Battle II planes, static classic car shows and extra. Discover information on the 2024 Nationwide Matches, together with a calendar of occasions, by visiting the CMP web site at https://thecmp.org/cmp-national-matches/.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) non-profit company. It’s devoted to firearm security and marksmanship coaching and to the promotion of marksmanship competitors for residents of the USA. For extra details about the CMP and its applications, log onto www.TheCMP.org.
