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LITTLE ROCK, AR (NewsDakota.com) – A team of North Dakota soldiers were recognized as the best in the National Guard after participating in the 45th Annual Winston P. Wilson (WPW) Championship.

The four North Dakota soldiers are from both the North Dakota Army and Air National Guard. The team secured wins in several shooting matches while competing against more than 500 others from National Guard units nationwide on April 24th through the 28th.

“The WPW matches test the full range of shooting skills, from exquisitely precise long range shots that demand discipline and patience to rapid reaction engagements at close range that demand quick, decisive action,” said Col. Dennis J. Humphrey, WPW match director and National Guard Marksmanship Training Center commander. “This is not a competition for specialists in a single event. The teams that compete and hope to win here must excel from one end of that spectrum to the other.”

North Dakota’s “A” team was named the Overall Aggregate Champions in team competition. Team members include Sgt. Tyler Goldade, of Jamestown, North Dakota, a member of the 815th Engineer Company (Horizontal), based in Edgeley, North Dakota; Sgt. Evan Messer, of Mandan, North Dakota, a member of the 817th Engineer Company (Sapper), based in Jamestown, North Dakota; Spc. Bryce Solie, of Fertile, Minnesota, also a member of the 817th; and Staff Sgt. Jason Dittus, of Bismarck, North Dakota, a member of the 818th Engineer Company (Sapper), based in Williston, North Dakota.

“This is a tremendous achievement for our Air and Army Guardsmen and the North Dakota National Guard’s Marksmanship Program,” said Maj. Gen. Alan S. Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general. “Marksmanship is a core discipline and skill we all must practice and demonstrate proficiency in as military members. Having our Soldiers and Airmen recognized as some of the best shooters in the nation verifies our organization’s readiness. Our competitors are invaluable assets within our units, since they’re able to provide mentoring and training to their battle buddies and wingmen in weapons knowledge and shooting fundamentals.”

The “A” team picked up additional wins in team competition, earning first place in the “Combat Rifle Team” match, in which they received the coveted Gen. Franklin J. Grass Trophy. They also took first place in the “National Guard Infantry Team” match and third place in both the “Know Your Limits” match and “Combined Army Enemy Barricade” match.

Additionally, a “B” Team comprised of Sgt. Joshua Bucklin, of Hazelton, North Dakota, a member of the 815th; Lt. Col. Benjamin Cleghorn, of Jamestown, a member of the 1st Battalion, 188th Regiment Air Defense Artillery, based in Grand Forks, North Dakota; Sgt. Andrew Maley, of Enderlin, North Dakota, a member of the 817th; and Capt. Aaron Robinson, of Andover, Minnesota, a member of the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, based in Fargo, took second place in the “Know Your Limits” match.

A third team, comprised of North Dakota Airmen from the Fargo-based 119th Wing, also took part in the competition and helped mentor North Dakota’s shooters. The team members are Senior Master Sgt. Brian Rook, Senior Master Sgt. Wade Swenson, Tech. Sgt. Joshua Von Bank, Tech Sgt. Charles Welle and 1st Lt. Dawn Erdmann.