Photo By Lt. Col. Jean Kratzer | New York Army National Guard Soldiers Capt. Katy Moryl , Sgt. First Class Kevin...... read more read more
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Editor’s Note: Capt. Jean Marie Kratzer covered this year’s National Guard biathlon as part of the public affairs team at the race and also took part in the competition as a racer.
MIDWAY, Utah--Five New York Army National Guard Soldiers tested their skiing and shooting abilities against competitors from around the country February 25 to March 1, during the National Guard’s annual biathlon championship at Soldier Hollow here.
Soldiers from 20 states competed for the top 15 men's finishers and top 5 women finishers and became part of the All-Guard team in the Chief National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships. The winners compete against other militaries in Europe and South America.
Biathlon combines two sports, target shooting and cross country skiing. Participants have to ski fast and hit their targets when they stop to shoot.
The New York team consisted Lt. Col. John Studiner, the team coach; Captains Katy and Joe Moryl, a married couple from Hudson; Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Brunick; and Capt. Jean Marie Kratzer.
The New Yorkers didn’t place, but had a chance to refine their skills and enjoy the event, Studiner said.
“I am new to the sport. This is my first year competing,” Brunick said. “, I came unprepared, and never realized how hard this sport is. I learned so much this week,”
"It's not for everyone," he said. "It's definitely one of the more challenging sports. I’ve done eight marathons and the physical pain of cross country skiing for two hours is far more grueling.”
The first World Biathlon Championships were held in 1958 and included a representative team of American military personnel from Camp Hale, Colorado. Two years later, the Winter Olympic Games introduced the modern form of the sport.
The active Army ran the military biathlon program until 1973 and then turned it over to the National Guard. Thirty states send teams to the competitions and the National Guard program has produced 24 Olympic biathlon competitors.
The military continues to value the combination of skiing and marksmanship skills and develops strong biathlon athletes who enter the World Class Athlete Program and compete in World Cup and Olympic biathlon events, Studiner said.
“This week was great for the state of New York for the first time since 2003 we were able to have a relay team,” Studiner said.
Four participants are required for the relay, in which each athlete skis 7.5 kilometers and engage targets. Katy Moryl skied twice to allow New York to take part.
“With continuous deployment cycles in the state of New York it has been hard to keep a steady team, but we are always looking for new athletes that can cross country ski,” Studiner said.
To qualify for the Utah event, the New York Soldiers participated in the eastern regional competition of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Jan. 24-28.
The New York team has been successful in the past. Two former team members, Air National Guard Master Sgt. Deborah Nordyke and her husband, retired Army National Guard Maj. Curt Schreiner, both competed on Olympic biathlon teams.
Along with the camaraderie of the competitions--there are not many biathletes--he appreciates the fact that biathlon has made him a better Soldier, Studiner said.
During the competition, ranges will have clocks running as each racer fires five shots at bulls eyes placed 50 meters away, using a bolt action rifle with iron sights. Joe Moryl perfectly shot every 50 meters target.
"The sport is extremely humbling, each time you go out and do a race you get better and stronger," Joe Moryl added.
Because they're part-time Soldiers who live in different places, the team members usually train on their own, Studiner said. They do get together each summer for a week-long training session at Camp Ethan Allen and other training venues including Lake Placid, New York.
The New York National Guard will finish the season after the competitions in Utah and will find other ways to maintain their skills.
"In the off-season, we will train with roller-skate skis. It's the same motion we use on the snow,” Studiner said.
“And, of course, we will practice our marksmanship. The team uses .22-caliber bolt action rifles specifically designed for biathlon,” Studiner added.
The New York National Guard welcomes new athletes to the biathlete program. They have a very active club- and civilian-race series in the winter and an active summer-training (running and shooting) program.
There is a limited number of competition firearms and ski equipment and supplies for athletes who are interested in competing.
There are two funded race series during the winter months that include the Eastern Regional Championships (4 days) and the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships (9 days). These competitions are usually held at Camp Ethan Allen, VT or Camp Ripley MN.
| Date Taken: | 03.06.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2018 15:15 |
| Story ID: | 268318 |
| Location: | MIDWAY , UTAH, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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