SHOOTING: Bret Erickson, Dominic Grazioli and Corey Cogdell Selected to 2008 U.S. Olympic Team in Trap

KERRVILLE, Texas (March 12, 2008)-The Trap portion of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shooting (Shotgun) concluded today with Bret Erickson (Bennington, Neb./Muenster, Texas) and Dominic Grazioli (Myrtle Beach, S.C./San Antonio, Texas), along with (Corey Cogdell (Eagle River, Alaska) being selected to the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in Men's and Women's Trap. Three-time Olympian Erickson will represent the U.S. on his fourth Olympic Team in Beijing this August after finishing the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in first place for Men's Trap with a final score of 499 targets. The second U.S. Olympic team spot for Men's Trap came down to the final shot between Air Force shooter Grazioli and John Mullins (Bremerton, Wash.), with Grazioli claiming the spot with a total score of 491 targets, while Mullins finished in third place with 490 targets. Three-time Olympian and 1996 bronze medalist Lance Bade (Vancouver, Wash.) finished in fourth place with 488 targets, while U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) shooters Matthew DePuydt (Houghton, Mich.) and Matthew Wallace (Stanton, Tenn.) finished in fifth and sixth place with 485 and 484 targets respectively. In Women's Trap, Cogdell, the 2007 Pan American Games and World Cup Korea bronze medalist, held on to her lead to win the competition and secure a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in Women's Trap with a final score of 475 targets. USAMU shooter Joetta Dement (Renton, Wash.) finished in second place with 463 targets. Susan Sledge (El Cajon, Calif.) took third place with 457 targets. Kelsey Zauhar (Lakeville, Minn.) finished in fourth place with 454 targets, while USAMU member and 1996 Olympian Theresa DeWitt (Cincinnati, Ohio) took fifth place with 453 targets. Collyn Loper (Indian Springs, Ala.), a 2004 Olympian, finished in sixth place with 447 targets. Official training for Double Trap and Skeet will take place tomorrow, with competition beginning on Friday. The 2008 U.S. Olympic team members for Double Trap will be selected on Saturday, while the Skeet team will be named on Sunday, which is the final day of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shooting (Shotgun). Top shotgun shooters from around the United States are vying for spots on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting (Shotgun) March 8-16, which is being held at the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center in Kerrville, Texas. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting is a collaborative partnership between the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and USA Shooting. Shotgun athletes will be selected to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team based on the aggregate score from both the Fall Selection competition, which was held last August and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting (Shotgun). The USOC has final approval of all U.S. Olympic Team members. There are eight spots available to the U.S. Olympic Shotgun team: Men's Skeet, 2; Men's Trap, 2; Men's Double Trap, 2; Women's Skeet, 1 and Women's Trap, 1. For complete 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Shooting (Shotgun) results, please visit www.usashooting.org. 2008 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS-SHOOTING (SHOTGUN) COMPETITION SCHEDULE: Thursday, March 13 Men's Double Trap Official Training Men's and Women's Skeet Official Training Friday, March 14 Men's Double Trap Match Men's and Women's Skeet Match-Day 1 Saturday, March 15 Men's Double Trap Final (Selection of Olympic Team members for Double Trap) Men's and Women's Skeet Match-Day 2 Sunday, March 16 Men's and Women's Skeet Finals (Selection of Olympic Team members for Men's and Women's Skeet) Media interested in more information should contact Mary Beth Vorwerk, Media and Public Relations Manager, USA Shooting, at (719)866-4896 or marybeth.vorwerk@usashooting.org.