October, 2003 Update:
This year USA Shooting commences its selection of the 2004 Olympic Men Team. This team will consist of 2 men and 1 alternate. There is no Juniors in this Olympic Games. Accordingly all members of the Junior Olympic Team will be trying out for the Mens Team.

The selection process consists of 2 matches the first (Fall Selection) in Colorado Springs, CO. on Oct. 9-11 and the second in March 2004 (Spring Selection) at Fort Benning, GA..

Each match is a 250 bird event.The Fall Selection Match was last week. After the first day (100 birds) Mark shot a 98 (25, 24, 25 & 24) and was in sole second place, 1 bird behind the Army Markmanship Unit's captain. The second day had winds of 25-30 mph with gusts to 35. Mark shot a 93 (23, 22 23 & 25) which dropped him to fifth, 3 birds behind the tied leaders. On the third day Mark shot a 49 out of 50 (25 & 24) and ended up tied (240 out of 250) for fifth place, 3 birds behind first (243).

In order to shoot in the Olympic Games, one must have a Minimum Qualifying Score (MQS) shot in a World Cup event since the last Olympic Games. Because Mark has not yet shot abroad, USA Shooting will be sending him to either Australia or Brasil in Jan. or March 2004 to shoot his MQS (114 out of 125 birds). This will be determined by his school schedule. This way if he shoots well in March 2004 and makes the team, he will be able to shoot in the Olympics. Mark was invited to try out for the Olympic Team to obtain experience for the 2008 Try-outs. He is very much in the running for the 2004 Men's Team.
Way to go, Mark!.

July, 2003 Update:
Just to keep you up on Mark's shooting progress, the National Championships were held for skeet on July 11, 12 & 13, 2003 in Colorado Springs. The event consisted of 300 targets (100 per day) for a total score. The men's champion shot a 294/300. The junior men's champion shot a 284/300. Twelve new National records were established.

Mark shot a 92, 94 & 94 for a 280/300. The 94's were his personal best in this discipline. Last year a 280 was enought to enter the final round of 25 for MEN.

Overall in the men's event, Mark tied for 14th out of 48. He won 1st in the men's B Class, with a higher score than the 1st in men's A Class, and the Collegiate Class.

In the Junior Men's Championship at the end of 3 days, he tied for 4th place with another Jr. Olympic teammate. In the final round of 25, they each shot a 24 and were still tied. They then shot off and Mark won on station 3 for the 4th place position. In order for the US to pay for travel to foreign World Cup events, the shooter must shoot a Performance Standard minmum level. This is the level (116/125) that would win a Bronze Medal in World Cup events. Mark made this standard in this shoot and the US will pay for his travel for the next year.

This is not bad for a shooter who will have been shooting this discipline for 2 years this August.