Talented Jr. Olympic hopeful, share the dream
Donation protected
Hi,
I'm Maximus, Max for short, and my dream is to compete and win for the USA in the 2028 Olympics. I have been shooting rifles since I was 8. At age 9 I started competing at local .22 LR caliber Silhouette matches . At 10 I built my own rifle. Ever since I first started, people have been telling me that I really have a talent for this sport, and I believe them. Multiple National champions and members of the USA rifle team have said this. The AZ state Jr. Rifle team and the USA Jr. rifle team both tried to recruit me but I was only 12, but the age limit for USA Rifle team was 14, so I couldn't join.
Competition rifle shooting has become my passion. Over the last four years I have been distinguishing myself at local, regional and national events. By the age of 12 I have set 6 national records . My shooting sport history can be seen below.
Now I've set my sights on the Olympic gold. Representing and winning for the USA at worldwide competitions is my dream. The event, Olympic 3 position 50 meter rifle match, has been my focus since November of 2019. The first Jr. Olympic qualifying match was just six weeks later where I beat 2 of the 9 Arizona competitors who had all the Olympic equipment and 2-6 years of practice (Whereas I had a borrowed rifle, stand and jacket). Not bragging, just pointing out that with the right equipment and a few more years of practice I can hopefully become the next Jr. Olympic medalist and then on to be an Olympic medalist, 2028.
That's where you can help, we need your donations. Olympic gear is very expensive. Traveling around the country to matches and to the Olympic training facility in Colorado requires your financial support. Will you help fund me, an Olympic hopeful? Every donation helps, small and large. Please do what you can.
That's the short story, see below for more information and a history of accomplishments.
12/15/2014
When I was 8, my dad introduced me to shooting by gifting me a new kid sized Savage Rascal single shot bolt action .22 caliber rifle for Christmas, and as you can see, I was ecstatic!!
1/21/2015
One month later, on the 21st of January, my dad introduced me to machine work in our garage, or "shop" as we call it. I was exited to learn all of the things we can do with metal and we loved (and still do) to make things out in the shop
2/20/2016
As of now (2016) I have been practicing with my Rascal .22 at local silhouette matches, and at last, at age 9, I won! In the picture, you can see that my short Rascal was too small to fit in the rack, so we had to put a chair under it, which was amusing :)
9/26/2016-12/20/2016
About a year later, I built an F-TR .223 single shot rifle out of an old Remington 700 action. When I say built, I mean I operated the machines (Mill & Lathe) while my dad stood behind me and directed me on what to do. After 3 months of finding time in between school and in my dad's case work, I completed the rifle. Here I am with it, and although it is completed, there is still much work to do!
1/17/2017
A month later, we found the time to take the rifle out and work up a load to see what it could do, and the results were impressive! (That's a dime in the picture).
5/28/2017
Four months later I took out the newly built rifle to a local match. There we shot at a target which was 500 Yards away (That's five football fields!) Age 10
3/11/2018
A year has passed, and I've done countless local matches, both with my new .22 and with my .223 that I had built, and we hear about a regional 500 Yard match, The John Martin Cup at our home range. We enter in early 2018, and we go to the match in March. I won out of all the Juniors and took home a medal, which hangs above my bed until this day. My dad also did well, beating all of the people in his category. Age 11
9/29/2018-9/30/2018
We hear that there is a State Smallbore (.22 Caliber) Silhouette Match in Tucson, AZ in September and I decide that I am Ready to take on the challenge. My Dad and I practice hard at local matches in anticipation and take our Fifth wheel trailer down to Tucson for the match. I do really well, beating all Juniors AND adults in my category. I have a really great time and at the end rack up 8 trophies! Age 12
2/17/2019
Months pass, many more Local matches are shot, and it's time for the John Martin Cup again. We enter, get spots in the match and do it. This time, I beat all of the Juniors, as well as all of the adults in my category! My dad also moves up and beats all of the people in the category above him. Age 12
3/24/2019
The Next month, on the same range, there is a National match, The Bergers. It is a worldwide match, with people coming from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and even Ireland! Unfortunately, due to school, I was not able to compete in all of the matches, but I did compete in the 600 Yard match on March 24th. I won the Expert division, Juniors and adults, and had a great time. (Those tiny dots above me are the Targets!!)
6/29/2019
I started Smallbore Lever Action silhouette in January of 2019, and now I begin to try High-power Lever Action. During practice, my dad asks me to try our new Winchester 30-30 caliber Lever Action rifle. I refuse, convinced it is too heavy with it's 26" Octagon barrel, and he asks me again to try it. Again I refuse, and he says "Just try five shots. If you don't like it, you don't have to shoot it anymore." So, I try it on the hardest targets, turkeys, and begun knocking them down 4/5 of the time. Of course, my dad was right, and I went on to set 6 National Records with that same rifle the following week in Raton, NM.
7/5/2019-7/8/2019
These matches are the National Lever Action matches in Raton, New Mexico.We have been working hard since January to get here, and we make it count. We do three separate matches over three days, one for Smallbore, one for Pistol Cartridge, and one for High-Power. The Smallbore and Pistol Cartridge matches are mostly uneventful, if not fun, but the High-Power match gets interesting. I set 4 National records there, shattering one of the old ones (22 of 60) by 21 points (43 of 60)! I take 1st place in my division, as does my dad and we both go home happy. Age12
8/17/2019
Having just tuned thirteen, I decide to go out and celebrate by shooting a Smallbore Silhouette match. Dad hands me a heavier, adult size match rifle, an Anschutz custom used by John Mullins 6x National champ in 2017. I do well, and beat everybody on the range. Not just in my division, but everybody, including my friend Jim Rose, who is a phenomenal shooter. This is the first time I have ever done this, and I walk away proud.This demonstrates what a good shooter can do with a great rifle and good equipment.
9/28/2019-9/29/2019
Arizona State Smallbore Silhouette Match which I compete in with two other juniors in a team. I take home first in my division both days, as well as High Junior. Age 13
10/27/2019
State Match for Lever Action Silhouette Rifle. Saturday afternoon I had a school play that I committed to. I was leading the pack in the morning. Unfortunately the school play conflicted with the match schedule, but the time I did spend there was fun. I took home the gold for my division on Sunday.
12/5/2019
After four months considering the commitment of time and dedication required, I decide to shoot for the Olympics in 50 meter 3 position .22 Rifle. I begin to train for the Jr. Olympic Qualifiers just five weeks away. I have no rifle or proper gear or the money to pull it together.
1/4/2020
The Junior Olympic Qualifiers are here, and I do good, beating 2 of the 9 competitors, all of which have 2-6 years of training and all the right gear.
That's all of the big matches that I've competed in up until now, I hope you've enjoyed reading my story as much as I have living it!
As you can tell from my story I'm dedicated and passionate about this sport.
I'm Maximus, Max for short, and my dream is to compete and win for the USA in the 2028 Olympics. I have been shooting rifles since I was 8. At age 9 I started competing at local .22 LR caliber Silhouette matches . At 10 I built my own rifle. Ever since I first started, people have been telling me that I really have a talent for this sport, and I believe them. Multiple National champions and members of the USA rifle team have said this. The AZ state Jr. Rifle team and the USA Jr. rifle team both tried to recruit me but I was only 12, but the age limit for USA Rifle team was 14, so I couldn't join.
Competition rifle shooting has become my passion. Over the last four years I have been distinguishing myself at local, regional and national events. By the age of 12 I have set 6 national records . My shooting sport history can be seen below.
Now I've set my sights on the Olympic gold. Representing and winning for the USA at worldwide competitions is my dream. The event, Olympic 3 position 50 meter rifle match, has been my focus since November of 2019. The first Jr. Olympic qualifying match was just six weeks later where I beat 2 of the 9 Arizona competitors who had all the Olympic equipment and 2-6 years of practice (Whereas I had a borrowed rifle, stand and jacket). Not bragging, just pointing out that with the right equipment and a few more years of practice I can hopefully become the next Jr. Olympic medalist and then on to be an Olympic medalist, 2028.
That's where you can help, we need your donations. Olympic gear is very expensive. Traveling around the country to matches and to the Olympic training facility in Colorado requires your financial support. Will you help fund me, an Olympic hopeful? Every donation helps, small and large. Please do what you can.
That's the short story, see below for more information and a history of accomplishments.
12/15/2014
When I was 8, my dad introduced me to shooting by gifting me a new kid sized Savage Rascal single shot bolt action .22 caliber rifle for Christmas, and as you can see, I was ecstatic!!
1/21/2015
One month later, on the 21st of January, my dad introduced me to machine work in our garage, or "shop" as we call it. I was exited to learn all of the things we can do with metal and we loved (and still do) to make things out in the shop
2/20/2016
As of now (2016) I have been practicing with my Rascal .22 at local silhouette matches, and at last, at age 9, I won! In the picture, you can see that my short Rascal was too small to fit in the rack, so we had to put a chair under it, which was amusing :)
9/26/2016-12/20/2016
About a year later, I built an F-TR .223 single shot rifle out of an old Remington 700 action. When I say built, I mean I operated the machines (Mill & Lathe) while my dad stood behind me and directed me on what to do. After 3 months of finding time in between school and in my dad's case work, I completed the rifle. Here I am with it, and although it is completed, there is still much work to do!
1/17/2017
A month later, we found the time to take the rifle out and work up a load to see what it could do, and the results were impressive! (That's a dime in the picture).
5/28/2017
Four months later I took out the newly built rifle to a local match. There we shot at a target which was 500 Yards away (That's five football fields!) Age 10
3/11/2018
A year has passed, and I've done countless local matches, both with my new .22 and with my .223 that I had built, and we hear about a regional 500 Yard match, The John Martin Cup at our home range. We enter in early 2018, and we go to the match in March. I won out of all the Juniors and took home a medal, which hangs above my bed until this day. My dad also did well, beating all of the people in his category. Age 11
9/29/2018-9/30/2018
We hear that there is a State Smallbore (.22 Caliber) Silhouette Match in Tucson, AZ in September and I decide that I am Ready to take on the challenge. My Dad and I practice hard at local matches in anticipation and take our Fifth wheel trailer down to Tucson for the match. I do really well, beating all Juniors AND adults in my category. I have a really great time and at the end rack up 8 trophies! Age 12
2/17/2019
Months pass, many more Local matches are shot, and it's time for the John Martin Cup again. We enter, get spots in the match and do it. This time, I beat all of the Juniors, as well as all of the adults in my category! My dad also moves up and beats all of the people in the category above him. Age 12
3/24/2019
The Next month, on the same range, there is a National match, The Bergers. It is a worldwide match, with people coming from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and even Ireland! Unfortunately, due to school, I was not able to compete in all of the matches, but I did compete in the 600 Yard match on March 24th. I won the Expert division, Juniors and adults, and had a great time. (Those tiny dots above me are the Targets!!)
6/29/2019
I started Smallbore Lever Action silhouette in January of 2019, and now I begin to try High-power Lever Action. During practice, my dad asks me to try our new Winchester 30-30 caliber Lever Action rifle. I refuse, convinced it is too heavy with it's 26" Octagon barrel, and he asks me again to try it. Again I refuse, and he says "Just try five shots. If you don't like it, you don't have to shoot it anymore." So, I try it on the hardest targets, turkeys, and begun knocking them down 4/5 of the time. Of course, my dad was right, and I went on to set 6 National Records with that same rifle the following week in Raton, NM.
7/5/2019-7/8/2019
These matches are the National Lever Action matches in Raton, New Mexico.We have been working hard since January to get here, and we make it count. We do three separate matches over three days, one for Smallbore, one for Pistol Cartridge, and one for High-Power. The Smallbore and Pistol Cartridge matches are mostly uneventful, if not fun, but the High-Power match gets interesting. I set 4 National records there, shattering one of the old ones (22 of 60) by 21 points (43 of 60)! I take 1st place in my division, as does my dad and we both go home happy. Age12
8/17/2019
Having just tuned thirteen, I decide to go out and celebrate by shooting a Smallbore Silhouette match. Dad hands me a heavier, adult size match rifle, an Anschutz custom used by John Mullins 6x National champ in 2017. I do well, and beat everybody on the range. Not just in my division, but everybody, including my friend Jim Rose, who is a phenomenal shooter. This is the first time I have ever done this, and I walk away proud.This demonstrates what a good shooter can do with a great rifle and good equipment.
9/28/2019-9/29/2019
Arizona State Smallbore Silhouette Match which I compete in with two other juniors in a team. I take home first in my division both days, as well as High Junior. Age 13
10/27/2019
State Match for Lever Action Silhouette Rifle. Saturday afternoon I had a school play that I committed to. I was leading the pack in the morning. Unfortunately the school play conflicted with the match schedule, but the time I did spend there was fun. I took home the gold for my division on Sunday.
12/5/2019
After four months considering the commitment of time and dedication required, I decide to shoot for the Olympics in 50 meter 3 position .22 Rifle. I begin to train for the Jr. Olympic Qualifiers just five weeks away. I have no rifle or proper gear or the money to pull it together.
1/4/2020
The Junior Olympic Qualifiers are here, and I do good, beating 2 of the 9 competitors, all of which have 2-6 years of training and all the right gear.
That's all of the big matches that I've competed in up until now, I hope you've enjoyed reading my story as much as I have living it!
As you can tell from my story I'm dedicated and passionate about this sport.
Organizer
Robert Delgarbino
Organizer
Cave Creek, AZ