Marion JROTC cadet Gwynneth Hamilton has qualified for two prestigious national marksmanship competitions:
She will compete later this month in the National All-Services Air Rifle Championship in Camp Perry, Ohio — only the third Marion cadet to earn a spot at this competition. Then, in April, she will compete at the Junior Olympics in April in Alabama, the fifth Marion marksman to earn a spot in this prestigious event. The Junior Olympics is sponsored by USA Shooting. Only the very top marksmen from across the country qualify for attendance.
Hamilton qualified for the National Air Rifle Championship with an outstanding day at the All-Army JROTC Regional Air Rifle Championship in Ohio in February.
“It was awesome, amazing and very satisfying,” Hamilton said of her experience and outcome at the All-Army Championship.
Marion High School marksman Gwynneth Hamilton, senior, has qualified to compete at the Junior Olympics in April at the Olympic Training Facility in Alabama. Only four previous Marion marksmen have earned trips to the Junior Olympics. She has also qualified for the National All-Services Air Rifle Championship in March in Ohio, only the fifth Marion marksman to earn their way to this competition. She is seen here competing during the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s 7th Brigade Championship in Kentucky in March 2026.
Col. Gary Blagburn (retired), Senior Army Instructor for the Marion High School JROTC, said her accomplishments are no easy feat.
“It is unbelievable the level of competition at [the All-Army Championship],” he said. “It is excellent to see how Cadet Maj. Hamilton has developed as a shooter and is performing at such a high level.”
Hamilton, a senior, has been competing on her own this year — as the Giants did not compete with a full marksman squad — and she has been consistently successful.
On March 15 she earned the championship title in the Precision category at the US Army Cadet Command’s 7th Brigade Championship, held in Kentucky. The Giants were competing in marksmanship, color guard, and drill at the event.
Anyone interested in helping to cover travel costs can donate online, https://bit.ly/GiveToMHSJROTC, through a pass-through fund administered by the Marion High School Alumni Association. You may also mailed your donation to JROTC at Marion High School, 750 W. 26th St., Marion, IN 46953, or drop donations at the school office during regular school hours.