Salome Cook, a sophomore from Stuttgart, shoots downrange during a marksmanship competition held at Vilseck High School, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. The competition included competitors from Stuttgart, Hohenfels, Ansbach and Vilseck high schools. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
Salome Cook, a sophomore from Stuttgart, shoots downrange during a marksmanship competition held at Vilseck High School, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. The competition included competitors from Stuttgart, Hohenfels, Ansbach and Vilseck high schools. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
Trinity Lepine, a sophomore from Stuttgart, fires downrange during a marksmanship competition held at Vilseck High School, Saturday Dec. 14, 2019. The competition included competitors from Stuttgart, Hohenfels, Ansbach and Vilseck high schools. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
Zulimar Mercado, a junior from Vilseck, prepares to shoot downrange during a marksmanship competition held at Vilseck High School, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. The competition included competitors from Stuttgart, Hohenfels, Ansbach and Vilseck high schools. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
Kyle Trehern, a freshman from Ansbach, prepares to shoot downrange during a competition held at Vilseck High School, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. The competition included competitors from Stuttgart, Hohenfels, Ansbach and Vilseck high schools. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
Colin Robertson, a freshman from Ansbach, sights in on his target during a marksmanship competition held at Vilseck High School, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. The competition included competitors from Stuttgart, Hohenfels, Ansbach and Vilseck high schools. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
Justin Chain, a sophomore from Hohenfels, prepares to exit the shooting range after competing in a marksmanship competition held at Vilseck High School, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. The competition included competitors from Stuttgart, Hohenfels, Ansbach and Vilseck high schools. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
John Sabala, the marksmanship coach at Vilseck, sights in on a target during a marksmanship competition held at Vilseck, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. The competition included competitors from Stuttgart, Hohenfels, Ansbach and Vilseck high schools. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
Shooters from Stuttgart, Hohenfels, Ansbach and Vilseck high schools compete in a marksmanship competition held at Vilseck High School, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
VILSECK, Germany – Six-time defending champion Stuttgart might be favored to win it all again this season. But their competition isn’t going down without a fight.
Hohenfels, Ansbach and the host Falcons joined the Panthers Saturday in the second competition of the season. Vicenza competed Friday in Italy.
Stuttgart did come out on top, totaling 1,152 points, led by returning champion Maria Tortorelli – who finished with a top score of 291. But Ansbach (1,115) wasn’t far behind, followed by the host Falcons (1,094).
“After the first round, all teams improved across the board,” Vilseck coach John Sabala said.
Ansbach’s Eliana Vales was just a point behind Tortorelli in the competition, which includes competitors firing at targets from prone, kneeling and standing positions.
Panther Leila Ybarra was third with 288, followed by Cougar Jasmine Rivera (287) and Stuttgart’s Kayla Bordreaux (287). Salome Cook finished in sixth at 285, giving Stuttgart four of the top six finishers.
“I feel good about competing, not really nervous. I keep my heart rate lower but controlling my breathing as well as my thoughts,” Cook said. “It is on our own when we compete, but we all contribute to the team.”
Cook’s mother, Amber, plays an integral role when Stuttgart competes at home or on the road.
“I am the team mom this year, I go to as many practices as possible and come to all the competitions, feed them – it is a family atmosphere,” Amber Cook said.
