SANDY, UT — In a historic performance at the 2026 Marine Corps JROTC National Air Rifle Championships, Fort Mill High School student Joshua Prince secured the title of National Champion. Competing against elite marksmen from 270 Marine Corps JROTC programs across the continental U.S. and overseas, Prince delivered a dominant performance to claim the top spot on the podium.
The Road to the Championship
The prestigious competition, held at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Utah, spanned two grueling days of precision shooting. Following the initial rounds, only the top eight competitors were selected to move into the final championship stage.
Joshua Prince entered the finals among the top eight and finished with an aggregate score of 1,123 – 47, handedly winning the national title. His victory not only earns him the title of Marine Corps National Champion but also qualifies him for the All Service Air Rifle Nationals at Camp Perry, Ohio, scheduled for next month.
Local Excellence: Nation Ford High School
The local success story extended to Nation Ford High School, which saw a strong performance from Carl Ransone. Ransone finished in the top tier of the individual sporter results, securing 8th place nationally with an aggregate score of 1,092 – 36.
Team Standings
Both York County schools were represented in the overall team rankings. In the Marine Corps Overall Sporter Team standings, the local squads finished side-by-side:
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Fort Mill High School finished 20th in the nation with a total score of 2,175 – 64.
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Nation Ford High School finished 21st nationally, following closely with a score of 2,151 – 62.
Looking Ahead to All-Service Nationals
Joshua Prince’s journey continues as he prepares to represent the Fort Mill community on the national stage in Ohio. Having proven his skills against the best in the Marine Corps, he now looks to duplicate that success against the top shooters from all JROTC branches—Army, Navy, and Air Force—for the All-Service JROTC National Champion Title.
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