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USA Shooting Nominates Eric Hollen to the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team

USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- Eric Hollen (Colorado Springs, Colo.), the recently announced 2011 USA Shooting Paralympic Athlete of the Year, can now add another accolade to his resume.

In accordance with the U.S. Paralympics Shooting Team selection procedures, the quota that Hollen won from the 2011 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Cup Sydney earns him a nomination to the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team (pending approval by the United States Olympic Committee).

“I am so proud of Eric and all he has accomplished. Despite a long, hard trip, short acclimation time and the pressure of knowing it was the final opportunity to win a quota, he got the job done in Sydney,” said National Paralympic Coach Bob Foth.

USA Shooting's Eric Hollen

Hollen was an addition to the U.S. Olympic Training Center (OTC) Resident Athlete roster in 2011. At the IPC World Cup Sydney he won a bronze medal in P4 Mixed 50m Free Pistol. Then, in P1 Men’s 10m Air Pistol, Hollen shot 557 match points to tie three shooters, but was confident in his finals ability.

Coach Foth commented, “His finals have really come together and the competitive situation brings out his best.” Hollen fired 98.1 points in ten-shots to secure the silver medal. The historic part, however, came from the 2012 Paralympic quota that Hollen won along with the medal. This is the first-ever Paralympic quota won in USA Shooting’s history per IPC’s new quota distribution system.

An elated Hollen said, “I am so thankful to be part of such an amazing program and to the people who have helped me reach the next step to my ultimate goal-Coach Bob Foth, Coach Ray Arredondo, Sean McCann, Dave Johnson, Sergey Luzov and many more.”

Hollen”Eric is an Army Special Forces veteran who has taken advantage of the unique opportunities available as an OTC Resident Athlete-the amazing support and intangibles that come with being in a high performance environment with focused athletes,” emphasized Coach Foth.

Hollen will remain at the OTC in Colorado Springs, Colo., to continue his preparations for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. To request an interview with Eric Hollen, please contact USAS Media and Public Relations Manager Katie Yergensen at katie.yergensen@usashooting.org.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and Facebook.

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USA Shooting

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --(Ammoland.com)- USA Shooting is proud to announce Kim Rhode (El Monte, Calif.) and Eric Uptagrafft (Phenix City, Ala.) as the 2011 USAS Athletes of the Year.

Both athletes have risen above the rest and have handfuls of hardware as a result of their impressive performances on the international and national scene in 2011. Moreover, Uptagrafft and Rhode are the male and female athletes of their respective disciplines.

Rhode, a Women’s Skeet athlete, is the reigning Female Athlete of the Year and has held the prestigious title for the past four years.

“I’m honored to be selected as Female Athlete of the Year. I’m training hard and looking forward to the 2012 Olympic Games,” said an elated Rhode.

Kim Rhode

After a fifth place finish at the ISSF World Cup Chile, Rhode won a gold medal in Sydney, securing her U.S. Olympic Team nomination (pending approval by the USOC). Rhode’s won another medal at the ISSF World Cup in Beijing-a silver medal from the range where she won her 2008 Olympic silver medal.

Back stateside, Rhode etched her name yet again in the Sizemore trophy with another National Championship title. She concluded the year with a bronze medal at the ISSF World Clay Target Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, and her first ISSF World Cup Final gold medal in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

“This is an exciting time for me,” said Rhode. “I’m honored to receive this Athlete of the Year award and appreciate the support of my great sponsors who share in this honor with me.”

Rhode is well on her way to achieving her next goal of accomplishing five individual Olympic medals in five consecutive Olympic Games. If she accomplishes that feat, she will add her name to the history books yet again.

Sergeant First Class Eric Uptagrafft of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) has had the season of a lifetime yet was humbled by the nod as he said, “There are so many athletes that shot great this year and to be counted among them is quite an honor.”

Eric Uptagrafft

First, at the ISSF World Cup in Sydney, Uptagrafft started the year with a near perfect 599 out of 600 match points. He won his first ISSF World Cup medal of the year-silver and an important Men’s 50m Rifle Prone quota for the USA. In Changwon Uptagrafft won yet another silver medal and earned a nomination to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team (pending approval by the USOC). Back on his home range Uptagrafft won the bronze medal at the 2011 USAS National Championships for Rifle and Pistol. Just days after winning his bronze Uptagrafft was deployed to Afghanistan to serve his country in his capacity as a soldier. Upon his return from service Uptagrafft shipped off yet again, but this time to compete in the prestigious ISSF World Cup Final. In Wroclaw, Poland, Uptagrafft shined and won the silver medal after seven weeks off practice and only one week to prepare.

“Thanks to the U.S. Army, the USAMU and USA Shooting for supporting me in my mission. I’d also like to thank my wife Sandra, my coaches Dave Johnson and Tom Tamas, and the thousands of supporters and sponsors of USA Shooting who make this all possible,” said Uptagrafft.

USA Shooting would like to congratulate Kim Rhode and Eric Uptagrafft on their respective successes in 2011 and wish them continued medals in 2012. Additional team members receiving recognition as the USAS Discipline Athletes of the Year are as follows: Emil Milev (Pistol), Jamie Beyerle (Rifle), Josh Richmond (Shotgun) and Eric Hollen (Paralympic). To read more about their accomplishments, please click here. Follow members of the USA Shooting Team as the quest for the 2012 Olympic Games continues with the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Airgun Feb. 24-26, 2011 in Anniston, Ala., the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shotgun May 17-20 in Tucson, Ariz., and finally the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Smallbore June 1-2 in Fort Benning, Ga.

About USA Shooting:
USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was chartered by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of shooting in April 1995. USA Shooting’s mission is to prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S. and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country. Check us out on the web at www.usashooting.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/USAShooting.

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