03/15/2026
๐ซ๐ซ๐ซWhat an amazing โ record setting โ day for the Cartersville High School Rifle Team!๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ
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๐The Canes brought home a ๐ฅ3rd place finish at the 2026 GHSA State Rifle Championship Match, held in Waycross, Georgia on March 14.
๐This was the first time in Canes Rifle history that the team made the podium at the State Championship Match. They finished the regular season with a remarkable 16-0 and advanced with two victories in the post season to secure a solid #7 spot at the State Championship Match.
There are 126 Rifle teams in the GHSA and unlike other sports that compete in state classification brackets based on size of the school, all rifle teams compete in one classification group for the state championship.
The State Championship is composed of the Top 17 Teams after regular season and two rounds of sectional and semi-final playoffs. There were 94 individual competitors with 85 students representing their schools and nine additional competitors who qualified as Individuals. To qualify as an Individual (without being a on a competing team) the competitor earned a score of 292 in at least one regular season or play off match and did not have a team that made it to the state match.
Many of the Georgia high school teams compete on electronic targets while others compete on paper targets during the regular season. The course of fire is a 3x10 โ three positions (kneeling, prone, and standing) for ten shots at a 10-meter distance.
The State Championship Match is a 3x20 course of fire (meaning three positions and 20 shots in each position) on electronic targets.
The Canes compete on paper targets โ and was the top ranked team that competes on paper targets in the state!
๐ซ๐ซ๐ซRepresenting the Canes in their second appearance at the State Match and first time on the podium were the top five shooters in regular season competition.
๐ฅMaggie Sheffield sat atop the leaderboard for the state match with a 589-40 and represented the Canes in the Finals. She finished 7th overall in the State Match.
๐ฅLucy Evans posted a 580-32 in the 15th spot after struggling with an injured back. She was able to serve as Maggieโs coach in the finals and conclude her senior season supporting her teammate.
๐ฅEmma Daughdrill earned personal best scores in the 3x20 positions and placed 32nd in the match with a 574-22.
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Chance Van Pelt also posted a personal best in the 3x20 positions with a 570-28 in the 42nd position to conclude the Canes scorecard.
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Bryson Newport served as the Canes alternate and posted his personal best in the 3x20 position with a 70th place finish.
๐In his third season as Head Coach for the Canes Rifle Team, Chief Edwin Bonayon brought home a trophy and a very exciting group of Canes!
This weekendโs performance is evidence of the growing enthusiasm for the Rifle program at Cartersville High School.
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Stay tuned for more in depth reviews of the Canes Rifle Teamโs remarkable season โ and keep following the dots to support this amazing group of students.
