Billy Azzinaro Claims Smallbore Bronze at USA Shooting Junior Olympics

Results

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  – Kentucky rifle sophomore Billy Azzinaro claimed the bronze medal in 50-meter three-position smallbore at the USA Shooting Junior Olympic Championships, earlier this week.

Azzinaro shot a2323, a point off Mitchell Van Patten’s silver medal score. Azzinaro shot 1156 on day one, 1161 on day two and 436 in the final.

“I am proud of the work Billy has done this week in the Junior Olympics,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “This is the first time that he qualified for the smallbore portion of the event and he had a real solid performance. He has been working hard toward reaching the podium and it was very gratifying to see him achieve that. 

“This was the last time that he was able to compete in the Junior Olympics and he finished with a strong week placing sixth in air rifle and third in smallbore. I feel that his work toward reaching another level is starting to pay off.”

UK freshman Jason Spaude placed ninth in smallbore with a match total of 2287.

Earlier in the week in air rifle Azzinaro, a sophomore from East Brunswick, N.J., finished with a solid sixth place performance and a finals appearance while Spaude finished 16th out of more than a 180-man field.

This event showcased the top males aged 20-years old and younger. 

Azzinaro and Spaude’s teammates Hanna Carr, Carmen Fry, Cathryn Papasodora and Jenna Bethea will be competing in the women’s competitions this weekend.