August 12, 2022Report based upon story by Ashley Dugan (CMP Staff Writer).
CAMP PERRY (Ohio) – SSG Amanda Elsenboss of the Army National Guard has made history. Amanda is the first female winner of the President’s Match, a noteworthy marksmanship event that was first held in 1894. The President’s Rifle Match (aka “President’s 100”) took place at Camp Perry on August 1. The President’s Hundred is the name given to the top 100 scoring competitors. Elsenboss, looking back at her own career, said that “this has been a long time coming – everyone thinks about the President’s Hundred Match”. Amanda has been a prominent force in the firing line for many years, first as a junior shot and then as part of the USAMU rifle team. Amanda joined the Army in 2009. She was assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. She won several national titles there, including long-range rifle and service wins. Amanda set a new national score at the 2021 National Matches and was the overall competitor in the National Trophy Team (NTT). She scored a score of 500-34X, which was almost unbeatable. This was her first year as a member the National Guard All Guard Marksmanship Team. She has faced many challenges on the firing line during her time on the team. The 2022 President’s rifle match was no exception.
SSG Amanda Elsenboss is presented with awards by Gary Anderson, CMP Director Emeritus.
The President’s Match this year was difficult. The day was challenging because of the strong winds and shifting conditions. Elsenboss’ preliminary score was 297-9X. She dropped only one point in each of the standing and prone positions. She said, “I surprised myself by shooting 99s everywhere. I owe it all to my teammates and other competitors on line who allowed me to ask them what wind [calls]] they were using.” “The camaraderie among all the competitors is so great that no one will try to hurt your feelings. Everyone is looking out for your interests. That makes a big difference. “Next came President’s Match 20-person shootoff – fired following the qualifying round from the day’s course of fire. Elsenboss has been to the shootoff several times, finishing in 20th or higher, but this was her first time starting in the lead position. Elsenboss stated that a three-point lead was enough to give her a buffer. However, conditions got more difficult as the Shootoff progressed, with the strongest wind gusts. Elsenboss remained confident. She set her rifle up for three minutes exactly where she believed it should be for her first record shot. Then, she fired the 7 to the right. She thought, “That’s not going be working.” Her next shots showed a 9 on her left and a 9 to her right. “I thought to myself, “You’ve got that bracketed.” Stop and put it in the middle. She shot well, her last shot was a 10, which gave her a 391-12X Shootoff aggregate. That score was good enough to win the Shootoff. SFC Brandon Green, her former USAMU teammate, and 2018 President’s Match Winner, came up to her firing line and said, “Congratulations Champ!” Amanda said that this was a remarkable comment. She said that she had known Brandon for almost the same time as I’ve been shooting and that it meant something to him that he would do that. Elsenboss finished second in the shootoff, just ahead of her teammate SGT Jonathan Wood. She also won the third consecutive President’s Match for the Army National Guard team. The Shootoff had the most participants of any service team. She was congratulated by fellow shooters as well as spectators. Among her fans were young female competitors. Her parents also thanked her as a role model for the next generation. Elsenboss stated that she tries to be an ambassador for the sport, as a female shooter in a male-dominated sport. She also remembers admiring Julia Watson (now Carlson), who won both national and international titles. Carlson was also the first woman to win the National Matches National Trophy Individual event (NTI) back in 1998. Elsenboss spoke highly of Carlson and other women who have made a significant impact on the sport, saying that she was a junior. “I thought, if they can do it, I can do it.”
Julia Carlson (in orange) congratulates Amanda for her President’s match victory. Elsenboss will continue to be an inspiration and a fixture in the legacy markmanship. She said, “Let’s keep this going and see what else we can do.”
