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Meet The Team

Learn more about this year's California Grizzlies team consisting of accomplished and hardworking juniors.

Grizzlies Coaching Staff

coach

Lane Ichord

Retired Army. Nationally Distinguished High Master. 7 years on prestigious U.S. Army Marksman Unit (AMU). Former Grizzly of 4 years. While on the Grizzlies and AMU teams, Lane has won numerous awards which includes the Presidents 100. 

Hometown: Waterford, CA
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Jim O'Connell

Retired Marine. 

Nationally Distinguished High Master. Coalinga, Richmond and Sacramento Valley are his main rifle ranges. He has hosted 'Camp O'Connell' for the California Junior Rifle Team in Coalinga the past 13 years. Jim is one of our main coaches at the National Matches. Jim awards are too numerous to mention.

Hometown:  Alameda, CA
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Some Past Grizzlies

Our California Grizzlies Team produces some really exceptional adults. Check out some of our highly achieving past members. We are so proud of their accomplishments and continue to support them in their future efforts to carry on the California Grizzlies name.

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Sondra Calderon
6th Year Grizzly 
Expert

Sondra graduated Pioneer High School. She is attending Northern Arizona University. She was on the NTT and NTIT teams at Nationals, both placing second for junior teams. She likes to draw, swim, be outdoors, ride her ATV and read. Sondra was previously a Navy Seal Cadet. 

Hometown: San Jose, CA

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Amber Kingshill
6th Year Grizzly 
High Master, Nationally Distinguished

Amber graduated Jesse Bethel High school with the Cum Laude Award for high GPA and great grades. She has won numerous awards at the National Matches 2019 including:  NTT Award Winning National Record setting 6-man team; NTIT Award Winning 6-man team and; the 4th highest junior overall winning a place on the CMP National Junior Team.  She enjoys hunting, fishing, and competitive shooting sports. She currently shoots service rifle, palma and service pistol. In the future Amber hopes to shoot on the military team and have a career in competitive shooting.

Hometown: Vallejo, CA

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Koa Van Hoven
8th Year Grizzly 
High Master, Nationally Distinguished

Koa is attending College of Marin with a major in Civil Engineering. In 2019 at the National Matches he won numerous awards including: High Junior; Golden Eagle Award; #62 out of 1063 competitors placing in the President's 100; #32 in the NTI Match gaining leg points to becoming Nationally Distinguished; a member of the NTT Award Winning, National Record Setting, 6 man team;  Award Winning NTIT 6 man team and; 2nd High Junior overall winning a place on the CMP National Junior Team. Koa became one of few Nationally Distinguished Rifleman in the USA in 2020 as well as a High Master. Koa represented the USA in the recent International Palma Competitions held in South Africa in March 2024 placing second overall under 21.

Hometown: San Rafael, CA

Afternoon Light
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Loet Van Hoven
8th Year Grizzly 
High Master, Nationally Distinguished

Loet had a very successful 2019 at the National Matches. He became a Nationally Distinguished Rifleman, was on the winning NTT 6 man team setting a new National record and on the winning junior NTIT team. Loet served as team co-captain for 2019. He also won the California Junior Service Rifle Championship and the Dean Alley Memorials Trophy in the summer of 2019. He has been helping with the Richmond youth program, mentoring new youth in the program on the range. He likes cars and outside activities. Loet has his Associates Degree in social & behavioral science and plans on transferring to Sonoma State for a degree in Sociology.

Hometown: San Rafael, CA

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Kaitlyn Bispo
7th Year Grizzly 

Master

Kaitlyn graduated Mariposa High School. Kaitlyn won the High Woman award for the California High Power Championship and the California 100 Yard Rifle Championship. She was on the NTT & NTIT teams placing second High Junior Team on both. Kaitlyn was captain of the six man team at Nationals in 2018 winning and setting a new National Record. She plans to become a Deputy some day and has been in the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department Explorer Program. She loves to play volleyball, basketball, riding horses and competing in shooting sports.

Hometown: La Grange

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Dustin "Dusty" Carr
4th Year Grizzly 

High Master, Nationally Distinguished

Dusty became a Nationally Distinguished shooter at the end of 2019. He was on both the NTT and NTIT teams, winning first, with the NTT team setting a new National Junior Record. Dusty is a High School graduate and has joined the Army Marksmanship Unit. He aspires to become Nationally Distinguished in Pistol also.  Dusty also enjoys shooting pistol, and shooting Springfield, Garand and Vintage Military Rifles after High Power. He is an Eagle Scout, and enjoys wrestling and fishing.  

Hometown: San Diego

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Miles Grove
6th Year Grizzly 
Distinguished Master

Miles became a Nationally Distinguished Master in October of 2016. In 2019, he won numerous top awards at the National Matches: NTT 6 man team setting a new National Record, NTIT 6 man team and 6th high junior overall winning a place on the CMP National Junior Team with 3 of his teammates.  Miles was also on the NTIT & NTT junior teams winning 1st in 2017. He was the team captain in 2017, 2019 and co-captain in 2018. He graduated California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo with a focus on Aerospace Engineering. He enjoys deep sea fishing, lake fishing, as well as anything outdoors with his family, especially whitewater rafting.

Hometown: Rancho Murietta

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Nathaniel Nye
7th Year Grizzly 
Master

Nathaniel had an excellent year at the 2019 National Matches. He was #63 out of 1063 shooters, placing in the President's 100 Match; #43 in the NTI Match gaining leg points towards becoming Nationally Distinguished; and he was a member of the award winning NTT 6 man team in 2019 setting a new National Record; and a member of the winning NTIT 6 man team. Nathaniel was 5th high junior overall at Nationals winning a place on the CMP National Junior Team. He is attending Cal Poly. He likes to fish, camp and hike.

Hometown: Twain Harte, CA

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Lauren "Sissy" Wood
6th Year Grizzly 
Master, Nationally Distinguished

Sissy is a Leigh High School graduate. At the National Matches in 2019 she won: CMP Cup 1000 Aggregate, 3rd overall high civilian and 1st overall junior in the 2 day slow aggregate plus she was a member of the NTT and NTIT teams placing second High Junior. She really enjoys her theater tech class in the drama department. She and her team mate placed 3rd in Taladega. Lauren really enjoys hiking, camping, photography and any outdoor activity. 

Hometown: San Jose, CA (previously)

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Tanner Hines
5th Year Grizzly 
Master

In 2019, Tanner was on the NTT and NTIT teams placing second High Junior at the National Matches. Tanner is Freshman at Columbia College focusing on automotive technology.  His other interests are computers, artwork and leadership roles. Tanner has helped with the Mother Lode Gun Club .22 youth program mentoring new youth in shooting sports.

Hometown: Sonora

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Amani Wang
2nd Year Grizzly 
Marksman

Amani is a sophomore at Sonora High School with good grades. She has helped mentor new juniors in the local .22 program at MLGC. She likes to swim, hunt and fish.

Hometown: Sonora

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Payton Wearing
2nd Year Grizzly 
Marksman

He has been competing locally in High Power as well as Trap. Payton has placed Nationally in Trap. He also enjoys basketball.

Hometown: Sonora

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