Junior competitor Jenna Boykin, 16, of Port Clinton, Ohio, led the Beginner category of the CMP Bullseye Pistol League—an eight-week league featuring Beginner and Experienced levels, partnered with Lake Erie Arms. The fall league was the first of its kind hosted by the CMP.
As the top Beginner participant, Boykin received a $100 gift certificate and a special match coin.
Boykin also led the Lake Erie Arms Lethal Ladies Pistol League, where she received a voucher for a Glock G43X handgun and a match coin.
“I found the Beginner's league fun, a little challenging and I learned a lot from it,” Boykin said. “I really enjoy shooting at Lake Erie Arms. The atmosphere is great. Everyone is super friendly and supportive.”
Boykin’s marksmanship career began when she asked for a BB gun for her 10th birthday. She used it for target shooting in her basement, and by the age of 12, Boykin had outgrown it and decided to attend the .22-caliber Rimfire Sporter Small Arms Firing School held at Camp Perry. It was there that she met Sarah Beard, a world-champion member of the U.S. National Team who trained her on the firing line—leaving a lasting impression.
“It was an awesome experience for me as a young girl,” Boykin said. “Sarah was a big inspiration to me. She basically jumpstarted my shooting career.”
After the clinic, Boykin was given a T-Class rifle and has competed yearly in the National Rimfire Sporter Rifle Match since 2022, even earning a bronze medal in her first match.
Through her performances at Camp Perry and other regional events, she has collected several gold medals, and this past summer, she was the High Woman in the TU Class of the National Rimfire Sporter Match, as well as the High Junior in the National Modern Military Match. Boykin went on to earn the High Woman title of the T-Class at the 2023 National Rimfire Sporter Match. Additionally, in 2023 she added pistol to her list of shooting disciplines.
Boykin’s abilities are constantly improving. On Thursdays, she practices at the nearby Oak Harbor Conservation Club as part of its Junior Rifle Program and entered the Lake Erie Arms leagues to give herself new challenges, along with furthering her pistol talents.
Eager to learn more about competition shooting, Boykin has attended rifle and pistol Small Arms Firing Schools and has competed in vintage sniper rifle competitions. She even traveled to the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park in Alabama to participate in the Talladega 600’s Rifle Marksmanship 101 Course, where she earned seventh overall in the accompanying M16 Match.
“My goals for my marksmanship career are to grow my skills and passion in different areas,” Boykin said. “After graduation, I could see myself potentially joining a collegiate team.”
She’s also putting more focus toward service rifle, soon becoming involved with Ohio’s Junior Team in the hopes of someday earning a Distinguished Rifle Badge. In the near future, she’ll be competing in the CMP Rimfire Sporter Rifle League.
Bullseye Pistol League Leaderboard
Beginner
- Jenna Boykin, 2380-126X
- Corbin Snyder, 2286-83X
- Vassie Scott, 2267-59X
Experienced
- Jim Biro, 2145-31X
- Mike Printy, 2070-27X
- Craig Downing, 2058-19X
Additional gift certificates were presented to the first ($100), second ($75) and third ($50) place competitors in the Experienced match and second ($75) and third ($50) place competitors in the Beginner league.
Learn more about CMP at thecmp.org.
