Ten members of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Rifle team have qualified for the 2026 Air and Smallbore Rifle National Junior Olympic Championship, which will take place in Anniston, Alabama from April 8 to 13.
The event is invitation-only, requiring participants to compete in State Junior Olympic Championship events and meet qualifying standards. Seven Keydets—Reece Guillet, Kyle Kemp, Zachary Mauriello, Alexander Pohlman, Jaren Vickers, Soraya Sar, and Darian Tweedell—earned first round invitations. Laura Canaday, Elizabeth Stann, and Wuyue Xie received second round invites.
In addition to qualifying for nationals, both Darian Tweedell and Alexander Pohlman earned medals at the Virginia State Qualifiers. Pohlman was named State Champion in Men’s Air Rifle with a score of 588. Tweedell secured bronze medals in Women’s Air Rifle with a score of 591 and Women’s Three-Position Smallbore with a score of 566. Pohlman also took silver in Men’s Three-Position Smallbore with a score of 569.
Other notable performances included Elizabeth Stann and Wuyue Xie each scoring 582 in Women’s Air Rifle and Laura Canaday posting a score of 579. In Men’s Air Rifle, Kyle Kemp scored 587 while Mauriello achieved a score of 583. Jaren Vickers posted a score of 574 and Reece Guillet scored 565. Soraya Sar led the Women’s Three-Position Smallbore with a score of 568.
The VMI athletes’ qualification highlights their achievements at the state level as they prepare to compete on the national stage next month.
