The Citadel's Cameron Bates
The Citadel Athletics
The Citadel's Cameron Bates

Rifle Southern Conference

The Citadel's Bates qualifies for Junior Olympics

Bates will compete April 13-19 in Colorado Springs, Colorado

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Freshman Citadel rifle cadet student-athlete Cameron Bates has qualified to compete in air rifle at the National Junior Olympics this spring following a qualifying match held at The Citadel's Inouye Marksmanship Center on Saturday, Jan. 11.

Bates joins the likes of Izzie Blystone (2019), Max Brabston (2018), Allison Auten (2017), Colton Poole (2016) and Patrick Meyer (2016), to name a few of the recent Bulldogs who have represented The Citadel and their home states at the event held each year at the United State Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"It was really exciting because he also set a career high with that score," said head coach Richie Parra. "I think he'll do well. He has some time still to practice and prepare. Hopefully he enjoys the experience and can learn a lot from his time out there to help him as he continues shooting competitively."

Bates, a freshman from Garner, North Carolina, took home silver-medalist honors in air rifle for the state of North Carolina with a career-best score of 581. He was the highest-finishing male shooter from the state in the competition.

Bates also shot a 549 in smallbore, finishing second in the men's division of North Carolina, and fourth overall, just missing out on bronze due to a tiebreaker. Bates has a chance to qualify for NJO in smallbore as well, but that decision will be made by a committee at a later date.

Sophomore Emily Perkins also did well in the competition as a non-resident as she hails from Guam. Perkins finished first overall in women's air with a 576 and can still be invited to compete in Colorado Springs this spring, but that decision will be made at a later date.

Freshman Demi Perez also competed in the competition, taking home silver-medalist honors in the women's smallbore for the state of South Carolina with a 497. Perez finished fourth for the state of South Carolina in air rifle with a score of 556.

The 2020 National Junior Olympics rifle competition will be held April 6-11 for the women and April 13-18 for the men.