FONTANA – Fontana High School’s (FOHI) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (MCJROTC) marksmanship team has begun the 2025 National Sporter Air Rifle League season with precision and focus, securing four consecutive wins and maintaining its standing among the nation’s leading teams.

Guided by coach LtCol Denny Meelarp, Fontana MCJROTC has earned a reputation for consistent excellence, qualifying for the national championships four years in a row and routinely placing among the top seven teams nationwide. The program emphasizes discipline, technique, and student independence, with Meelarp encouraging cadets to take ownership of their training.

“It’s refreshing to see our students take the lead in their own journey,” Meelarp said. “I’ll always be there to push them, but what makes this program special is how each student progresses at their own pace and learns to replicate success until it becomes second nature. One good shot is never enough – you have to be consistent until you can’t get it wrong.”

The eight-week national competition pairs high school and junior rifle teams in weekly matchups, with results determining conference and divisional standings. Fontana MCJROTC, competing in the Marine Corps JROTC Champions Division, has completed four of its seven scheduled regular-season matches and remains undefeated at 4-0.

The 2025-26 season opened with a forfeit victory over Cascade Shooting Facilities, posting a team score of 1144.3. Senior Angel Posada led the squad with a mark of 292.7, supported by teammates Raymond Sanchez, Ashia Segura, and Javier Campos.

In week two, Fontana claimed a 1169.6-1104.8 win over Selma MCJROTC. Sanchez delivered a team-high 293.4, while Posada, Segura, and Campos contributed strong performances to secure a commanding 64.8-point margin by the end of the match.

The team’s third win came against the 2024-25 CMP National Champions, North Brunswick AJROTC, in a tightly contested matchup. Posada returned to lead the team with a 294.5, supported by Stephanie Mendoza, Campos, and Segura, helping Fontana pull away during the standing portion after an early back-and-forth through kneeling and prone stages. The team finished 1166.3 to 1150.1, maintaining its unbeaten record and holding the top spot in both the league and the Champions Division.

Fontana’s fourth victory came with a 1165-1130.7 win over West Valley MCJROTC of Fairbanks, Alaska in week four. The team opened with a 10-point advantage in the kneeling stage and steadily built on its lead, expanding it to 21.6 after prone before closing with a decisive 34.3-point margin. Posada once again paced Fontana with a 293.7, joined by Mendoza, Campos, and Segura in a well-balanced team performance that secured the squad’s place on-top of both the overall league and Champions Division standings at midseason.

Among Fontana’s roster, Posada has emerged as one of this year’s top FOHI shooters. A legacy member introduced to the program by his cousin, Posada competes in the standing, kneeling, and prone positions.

“My cousin first introduced me to the program, but what keeps me here is the people,” Posada said. “Shooting gives me a place to decompress and focus, but it’s really the team that makes it meaningful. We’ve become a family that supports each other through wins and losses.”

According to Meelarp, Posada’s focus and resilience have been shaped not only by competition but by his personal journey. A hardworking student who balances MCJROTC commitments with working after school and his English learner coursework, Posada credits the program with giving him structure and perspective.

As Fontana MCJROTC prepares to face Stony Point NJROTC of Round Rock, Texas in week five, the team remains locked in to its long-term goal of returning to the Junior Olympic Nationals for a shot at the national title.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

MCJROTC_COMPETITION_WINS1: Week one marksmanship team, top row from left: Ashia Segura, Javier Campos, Angel Posada, Raymond Sanchez; bottom row from left: Daisy Santiago, Rosario Negreta, and Aleen Castro. The team continues to dominate their division.

MCJROTC_COMPETITION_WINS2: Fontana High School’s Angel Posada prepares for a standing shot. He has established himself as one of Fontana High’s top shooters in the 2025–26 season.