Johnson heading to National Finals

For the second straight year, Whitehall's Jacy Johnson has qualified for the National Finals in a Light Rifle Shooting Competition. The soon-to-be sophomore will be competing at the National High School Finals Rodeo next month in Rock Springs, WY.

Johnson finished first in rifle shooting at the Montana High School State Rodeo earlier this month in Baker. She also finished first if rifle shooting last year at the Montana Junior High School State Finals and represented the Treasure State at the National Competition in Tennessee. Last year was the first year Johnson had competed in the shooting competition.

"It was an amazing feeling," Johnson said about finishing first in her first year of high school competition. "Being able to qualify for Nationals is really, really cool.

Leading up to the event, Johnson wasn't sure how well she would shoot because of the wind, but made adjustments with her scope and tried to shoot when there were calmer winds.

After the success in the junior high shooting event, Johnson was able to get a new gun from Joe Gunter and shot a couple times with him, but said other than some gopher shooting at home, she did not practice a lot leading up to state.

At the first round of Nationals July 17, Johnson will take 12 shots each from a prone, kneeling, and standing positions. She will have four targets for each shoot, and will have to hit each one three times. The top scores will advance to the short-go round July 18.

Johnson is hoping to do well to end her freshman season, but is also excited to see friends she has made at prior national competitions. She said that shooting is a different and less stressful situation than rodeo events.

In 2017, Johnson finished second in the state in pole pending and competed in the event at nationals, but did not qualify this year.

She said the state event did not go the way she wanted. bit was optimistic about the future.. Looking back at the rodeo season, Johnson said she retired her horse from nationals in the fall and started in the spring with a new one. She was encouraged with the way they clicked by the end of the season and will continue practicing with her until next season. Johnson said it helps you improve to always be riding, even if it is out moving cows.