Webb City JROTC’s top five marksmen are on their way today to Camp Perry, Ohio, where they’ll compete Friday and Saturday in the Junior Olympic National Championships.

Dustin Elder, Lt. Col. (retired), leads the team, which includes three recent graduates, Lauren Gilpin, Bailey Russell, and Jager Carter, incoming senior Zach Chronister, and incoming junior Gabe Elder.

It’s a team with earned confidence. They qualified for nationals in January at the Missouri Junior Olympics, and they’re unofficially ranked in the top 20 nationally.

Dustin Elder explains that it’s been tough winning first-place trophies in this area because their main competitor, Ozark, placed first in the recent JROTC National Rifle Championships.

Webb City placed ninth at JROTC Nationals.

First and ninth in the nation, “that’s pretty good for two southwest Missouri schools,” says Elder.

The Junior Olympic Nationals are different from the JROTC Nationals because they are open to all teams, not just those connected to the Army.

Elder says reaching the national level requires patience, discipline and consistency. “Everything’s got to be the same or they’ll shoot differently.”

Consistency requires consistent practice. “We practice four days a week (since August),” says Elder. “That’s why this program has started to win a little more.”

For updates on the competition, go to the team’s Facebook page.

The team is expected arrive back at WCHS at approximately 4 p.m. Monday.