The Indians Rifle Team finished third in the Area 6 Tournament after completing the season with a couple of years. The team finished two busy weeks by hosting the Area 6 tournament on Saturday 7th on their home range. The tournament consisted of 3 relays with two teams performing during each. After all relays were completed, the final ranking was determined by score. Lumpkin finished third, behind North Gwinnett and Buford, with a score of 1116. The remaining teams were North Forsyth, Parkview, and Roswell. The third place finish means the Indians will compete against the Area 5 fourth-ranked team, which has not been announced at this time. The team scores were, in order of first to fifth, were: James “JT” Wright - 293, Ivy Stowers - 278, Liam Kearney - 273, Makayla Prosser - 272, and Joey Dechant - 268. JT Wright’s score confirmed his ranking of first in Area 6 with an average of 293.92. The tournament came at the end of a busy couple of weeks for the team beginning with a weather-delayed match at home against Buford High School. Originally scheduled for January 27th but had to be moved to the following day of Wednesday the 28th. With limited practices to begin the week, the team performed well and finished with a score of 1130. Unfortunately, it was short of Buford’s score. Senior “JT” Wright led the team with scoring by finishing with a 296, which was also the top score of the match. Senior Joey Dechant followed in second best with a score of 283. Sophomore Ivy Stowers was third with a 278 and Junior Liam Kearney was fourth with a 273. Sophomore Justice Kiefer scored a fifth best of 264. Sophomore Makayla Prosser continued to gain experience by participating in the match and earning a new personal best of 274. The following day Lumpkin competed at home, again, against Stone Mountain High School and came away with the victory on Thursday, January 29th. The final score of the match was 1109 to 815. JT Wright led the team and the match again with a final score of 292. Makayla Prosser had the second best team score in this match by repeating her personal best of 274. Joey Dechant had the third best with a 272, Ivy Stowers was next with a 271, and Liam Kearney with a 269. Justice Kiefer participated in a JV role and scored a 279. The next week the team finished the regular season on the road by traveling to North Forsyth High School on February 5th. Lumpkin sat one match ahead of North Forsyth going into the match. Lumpkin left with a win by a score of 1117 to 1105 and a season record of 8-4. JT Wright finished the season leading the team and the match with a score of 293. Joey Dechant returned to second by finishing with a score of 280. The remaining team scores were, in sequential order, Ivy Stowers with a 275, Makayla Prosser with a 269, and Liam Kearney in fifth. In addition to three season matches and an area tournament. Some of the team’s members sought additional experience and qualification for high level matches. JT Wright and Makayla Prosser both attended the Junior Olympic Qualifier matches at Georgia Military College (GMC) on January 24thin hopes of qualifying for the USA Shooting Junior Olympics (JO) which will be held in Anniston, AL in April. Wright qualified last year by being the U18 State of Georgia State Champion in both Smallbore and Air Rifle and hopes to return this year. Prosser competed in her first-ever 60-shot standing match aiming for her first invitation to the JO. Prosser carried her experience from the match into the Buford match and attributed it to accomplishing her new personal best of 274. Wright traveled to the Civilian Marksmanship Center (CMP) in Anniston, AL on Saturday, January 31st to compete in two matches in the Dixie Challenge. He finished the day with a second place finish in the 3- Position Air Rifle (3-PAR) match and a second place overall finish, which was based on the 3-PAR finish and his score from a 60-shot standing match. Liam Kearney and Ivy Stowers competed in a gauntlet of matches when they travelled to CMP in Anniston and competed in the 2026 JROTC Service Championship. The Championship consisted of two 3-PAR matches, one on Friday, January 6th and the second on Saturday, January 7th. The both showed true dedication to the team as they immediately left at the conclusion of their relay in the Championship and travelled straight to the school to join their team for the tournament relay. The team will face Mary Persons High School, located in Monroe County, in the GHSA Sectionals. The match will be at home on February 24th at 5:30pm. It can be followed live at http:/live.kongsberg-ts.no