Oklahoma City, Okla. –
The Army Reserve recognizes numerous shooting disciplines and has Soldiers proficient in many of them. Sgt. 1st Class Brian Stoa champions in competitive shotgun events. As an aerial target shooter, he competes in Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays and has enjoyed a solid win streak in 2019.
“In July, I competed in Amarillo, Texas for the Texas State Trap Shoot with 208 shooters in the Championship Events,” Sgt. 1st Class Stoa says. “I tied for Class AA Champion in Friday’s Doubles event. Saturday held the Nostalgia Shoot, where shooters competed with shotguns that pre-dated 1964. I used a classic Ithaca M37T pump built in 1948 to win this event by two targets. In Sunday’s Handicap event against tough competition and close scores, I ended up in a six-way tie and eventually won the 27 Yard Championship.”
This month’s success is now three in a row for Stoa. “In May, I was selected to shoot on the Army Skeet Team again, competing at the Armed Services Skeet Championship. Our Team made a strong showing, winning several team events and I won in the individual sub-gauge events,” said Sgt. 1st Class Stoa. “In June, I competed in the Oklahoma State Trap Shoot with about 150 other competitors for the Championship events and finished as AA Class Champion in both Singles and Doubles target events. Both events were decided after shoot offs.”
Sgt. 1st Class Stoa maintains his championship record while continuing to serve and fulfill his Army Reserve duties, currently as the USAR Operations NCOIC for the Oklahoma City Recruiting Battalion. As with all Army Reserve shooters, competition shooting is an additional duty on top of the tasks and responsibilities of the assigned unit.