Aug. 13, 2002

MEMPHIS, TENN. - Members of the University of Memphis rifle team assisted with the 2002 NRA Beeman Grand Prix Championship hosted at RangeMaster this past weekend.

The tour is sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans of America and is in preparation for the Paralympics. Rifle is one sport in which Disabled Shooting Services Department director Dave Baskin commented that male and female shooters are equally competitive.

"In this sport, the playing field is level for both men and women," said Baskin. "Shooting is a skill sport that is not based on physical strength. In fact, it is very exciting to see that four of the top 10 shooters on this tour are women."

Memphis Rifle Coach Butch Woolbright was also complimentary of the event and often stated how much he had learned about the similarities between his own athletes and the disabled athletes who were competing.

"I find it so interesting how this is one sport that the rules are basically the same for both the disabled and the non-disabled athlete," said Woolbright. "Sure, there are a few provisions for the disabled, such as the shooting area obviously has to be adjusted to fit a wheel chair, but for the most part, the events mirror each other."

Woolbright, assistant coach John Dowdy and freshman Beth Tidmore assisted Baskin and his staff in changing out the targets, and in scoring the targets after each round.