Marskmanship compeititors prepare to fire at their individual targets while competing in the 2019 European Championships, in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Saturday, Feb 2, 2019. (AARON KNOWLES/STARS AND STRIPES)
Marskmanship compeititors prepare to fire at their individual targets while competing in the 2019 European Championships, in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Saturday, Feb 2, 2019. (AARON KNOWLES/STARS AND STRIPES)
Maria Tortorelli adjusts the sight on her air rifle while preparing to shoot during the 2019 European Championships, in Wiesbaden, Germany, Saturday, Feb 2, 2019. (AARON KNOWLES/STARS AND STRIPES)
Competitors prepare to fire at their individual targets while competing in the 2019 European Marksmanship Championships, in Wiesbaden, Germany, Saturday, Feb 2, 2019. (AARON KNOWLES/STARS AND STRIPES)
Competitors adjust and reload their air rifles while competing in the 2019 European Marksmanship Championships, in Wiesbaden, Germany, Saturday, Feb 2, 2019. (AARON KNOWLES/STARS AND STRIPES)
WIESBADEN, Germany – The more things change, the more they stay the same in DODEA-Europe marksmanship.
Five-time reigning champion Stuttgart didn’t bring a single returnee back this season. Though the Panthers didn’t lose during the short regular season, they were challenged regularly. And Kaiserslautern, competing in the opposite division – based on geography – put up a higher single-meet score.
But led by freshman Maria Tortorelli – who won the competition with a score of 572 – Stuttgart triumphed again Saturday in the sport’s season-ending championship. Teammate Salome Cook was second as the five-member team finished with a combined score of 2,251 – comfortably ahead of the host Warriors (2,227) and Raiders (2,213).
Cook’s score was 568 in the competition, which consists of shooters firing at targets from prone, kneeling and standing positions and combining the scores into a total. Wiesbaden’s Tristan Lauer was third with 565, followed by Ansbach’s Eliana Vales (563) and Kaiserslautern’s Juliana Hosey (560).
Tortorelli joined the team in September, after Coach Raul Pinon, also a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps instructor, pointed out that she had the qualities the team needed; patience and discipline.
“This sport is individual, but the whole team still works together, and I really liked that,” Tortorelli said. “There is such a good bond and we all just really get along.”
The Panthers practice every day after school, but according to Pinon, the new team members picked up the skills so quickly, they practically taught themselves.
Twitter: @AKStripes
