Sports
Former Fort Harmar Shooter Wins National Championship
Derek Keiser just picked up the gold for air rifle shooting on a national level, could be competing internationally.
MARIETTA, OH — A local sharpshooter is getting some major recognition. This weekend in Michigan, 19-year-old Derek Keiser won the National Junior Olympic Championship for air rifle. He also placed fourth nationally for smallbore, which is small caliber shooting.
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Keiser is a freshman at OSU, but he’s already on the Ohio State University varsity rifle team. He’s from Vienna, West Virginia, but his shooting roots dig deep into Marietta. He was on the Fort Harmar Rifle Club Junior Team up until recently.
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Scott Steinel was his coach. He’d been coaching Keiser since he was 14-years-old. “He’s shot in many events and has moved his way up the ranks.” This was the fourth time he’s made an appearance in the Junior Olympics, “He made it five times, but 2020 being what it was they canceled it.”
This win qualifies him for the Junior Olympics National Team and he could be competing internationally. Keiser says there are a few international competitions coming up for juniors, “I’ll be working with USA Shooting to see if I can get the opportunity to compete at those because that door is open for me now.”
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Steinel says he always took shooting seriously. “You’ll never find a kid who worked harder.” His former coach said it’s great to see all that hard work paying off.
Keiser beat Will Shaner this weekend, he's one of the shooters who is going to be representing the United States in the Tokyo Olympic Games. He said he hopes to use this victory to further his shooting career. “Hopefully lead on a path to more international competitions and a chance to succeed there.”
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