Wrapping up our coverage of the Top 8 Ladies in the Open Division, here are our interviews with Rebecca T. Jones and Megan Francisco.

2^nd Place – Rebecca T. Jones
2008 Ladies Open National Champion

WoUSPSA – Congratulations on your second place finish! Going into this year’s nationals, how did you prepare to defend your title?

Rebecca – Prior to the Nationals, I shot a lot of matches this year.  I won high lady at every match with a lot of A class wins leading up to the Nationals.  The pressure of a match, even local matches, is the best form of training for me.  Match experience is crucial.  In order to take time off from work to attend matches, my live-fire practice was often limited.

WoUSPSA – Who did you think was going to give you your biggest competition?

Rebecca – I knew all the ladies would be tough competitors.  But after shooting with Megan all year, I had a feeling she and I would be neck and neck, as usual!

WoUSPSA – You shot exclusively USPSA this year and opted not to compete in Steel Challenge or other events.  Do you think that helped or hurt you for this match?

Rebecca – Much of the reason I shot exclusively USPSA was due to time constraints.  Having to take time off work forced me to pick and choose the matches I attended.  USPSA is my favorite type of competition and I wanted to concentrate on that this year.  It’s tough to compare USPSA to Steel Challenge; they are two totally different games that I train differently for.

WoUSPSA – We understand you came to Nationals sick.  Sorry to hear that!  What was it like competing when feeling less than 100%?

Rebecca – I had been sick with bronchitis and pneumonia for about a month prior to the Nationals.  I tried to find a balance between getting myself well and training for the Nationals.  Unfortunately I went downhill just before the match.  Being ill and on meds definitely made it difficult for me to focus and shoot to my potential.

WoUSPSA – Can you give us a day-by-day account of your match?

Rebecca – Day 1 started off well for me – my first two stages were strong.  But I was slow with a no-shoot on my third stage, which cost me about 20 points. Day 2 was a strong day for me.  The stages were accuracy-intensive this day, which I like.  Out of the five stages I won this year, two were on this day. Day 3 brought my second no-shoot of the match.  I was “off” on a couple of stages, which kept me back from Megan about the same as I was at the end of Day 1 & 2 – about 15-17 points back. I finally started feeling better on the last day of the match.  On Day 4 I shot well, but with only 3 stages to go, there just weren’t enough points for me to catch up.  Despite giving it my all on the last stage with a good time, I was too many points down on the bobbers. I ended up gaining about 10 points on Megan on that last day, keeping me only 7 points behind her in the end.  She shot a very consistent match and that’s how you win.

WoUSPSA – What was your best stage?

Rebecca – My best stage was Stage 1.  It was a deceivingly hard stage with some tight shots and tough set-ups.  Being 14th overall on a stage at the Nationals was very exciting for me.

WoUSPSA – What was your favorite stage and why?

Rebecca – My favorite stage was probably Stage 8.  Accuracy and proper footwork were very important on that stage and it would have been easy to drop a lot of points.  You really had to stay focused for the whole stage.

WoUSPSA – What did you think of the stages?

Rebecca – The Nationals should be our premier venue and I thought the stage design lacked a bit of creativity.  I don’t think there was enough movement or distance shots, and everyone typically shot each stage the same.  I did like seeing so many no-shoots, believe it or not!

WoUSPSA – You shoot with Megan regularly.  In her acceptance speech, Megan acknowledged you. Do you think you have an advantage being able to train with another lady that pushes you to be better?

Rebecca – I do think it’s an advantage to shoot with Megan throughout the year. We push each other and keep each other on our toes. There are quite a few really good shooters in our Area who push me to be better, and I feel fortunate to be able to shoot with them on a regular basis.

WoUSPSA – Thanks for taking the time to interview with us.  Is there anything you would like to add?

Rebecca – I had an awesome squad at the Nationals this year!  I got to shoot with a lot of good friends from the east coast and it was great to have their friendship and support.

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USPSA Ladies Open National Champion – Megan Francisco
This is Megan’s first Ladies Open National Title after placing a close second at the 2008 USPSA Open Nationals

WoUSPSA – Congratulations!!! Now that you have had some time to take it all in, how does it feel to win your first USPSA Nationals?

Megan – After shooting the sport for 6 years, it feels great to have reached my goal. Winning the national championship was something I have always thought about and to have achieved it is a great personal accomplishment.

WoUSPSA – Going into the nationals, what was your game plan for the year?

Megan – My mental game was the first aspect of training that I worked on. I was really strong mentally at the nationals in 2008 and I knew I had to do the same this year. That 2008 performance gave me the confidence to know that I was capable of winning the Open Nationals. I also made it a point the past two years to increase my cardio endurance and to be physically stronger. I did this by running an average of 15-20 miles weekly and lifting weights to increase my upper body strength.

Technique wise, I decided to focus a lot on improving my movement and ability to get into and out of shooting positions. The biggest change in my shooting was having access to a nearby covered outdoor range (Range82 in Midland, Va.). It enabled me to train almost daily, rain or shine and allowed me to set up specific drills that incorporated movement. Prior to 2008, I had only been able to train in a booth at indoor ranges. Wow, what a difference!

WoUSPSA – Who did you think was going to give you your biggest competition?

Megan – There are so many top lady shooters; you can never count any of them out. Doni Spencer, Athena Lee, Kay Miculek, Lisa Munson and Rebecca Jones are all capable of winning. Because I shoot with Rebecca regularly, I know her capabilities and her level of dedication. She is the one who I am always looking out for and she constantly pushes me.

WoUSPSA – Do you think you came in as an underdog?

Megan – I don’t think I did. Maybe the public thought so because they don’t know much about me, but I didn’t. I finished 5^th in 2005 and 2007 and was 2^nd place last year by only 3 points to Rebecca.  So, I don’t feel like I came out of nowhere. After last years nationals I knew that I could win and that is what I set out to do this year.

WoUSPSA – How did you maintain focus throughout the match?

Megan – I just tried to focus on each individual stage. My main goal is to execute my plan without extra shots. Whether I was able to accomplish that or not, by the time I got to my next stage I had to have a clear mind and be ready to think about the stage in front of me and leave the past stage behind. My i-pod always helps with that. There is nothing like good music to relax you and clear your mind.

WoUSPSA – Could you describe your performance on Day 1?

Megan – On day one I shot stages 10-13.  I started out the first stage (stage 10) of the match with a miss. I canted my gun and wound up shooting the wall. This made me re-focus and be much more mindful and deliberate on the next stage. This focus continued as I made no further errors throughout the rest of the day. I felt really good about my performance on Stage 12. I was able to execute my exact game plan by hitting my positions and I didn’t take any extra shots. I finished that day feeling that my performance was solid.

WoUSPSA – How about Day 2?

Megan – On Day two I shot stages 14-16 & stage 1.  I started on Stage 14. I ended up having to re-shoot the stage due to a prop failure caused by the wind. I had to wait a really long time because the same thing happened to Kay (2 times) and it took a while for the RO’s to fix it. I generally do not mind re-shoots but I was getting anxious because there were two other squads backed up waiting for us to finish. I told myself that they didn’t care what I did, they just wanted us to finish so they could shoot. That helped calm my nerves. I was able to completely focus and shot well on that stage. The rest of the day was very steady, until we got to Stage 1, our last stage of the day. On that stage I lost my concentration and slapped a shot into a no-shoot. I was thankful that was our last stage for that day.

WoUSPSA – Half-way through the match, how was Day 3?

Megan – Day three I shot stages 2-6 and started with Stage 2. That stage had some swingers that you had to get the timing right in order to have a good time. I mostly wanted to come off that stage clean. I did shoot clean but had a slow time because I had missed the swinger and had to wait for another showing. Stages 3-6 I shot solid with good hits and decent times. I usually gauge myself based on how I stand against my husband Ron (I try to stay within a couple seconds of his time and still have good hits) and so I knew I had a solid day of shooting. I don’t ever look at the scores so I didn’t know exactly where I stood against the other ladies but I felt good about my performance up to this point in the match.

WoUSPSA – The final day?

Megan – Day four I shot stages 7-9. My plan for this day was to be conservative and safe due to the unpredictability of the props on stages 7 & 9.  I started out my last day with the Texas Star stage. Usually I have no fear of a Texas Star, but his one was very tricky. If you didn’t hit the plates exactly right, they could disappear and you could give up a lot of time/points. Ron and I came up with a specific order in which to engage the plates, but I also knew that I couldn’t take any extra shots. The plan worked and I was able to hit them one for one. That was a big relief getting through that stage. Stage 8 was a field course and my priority was to hit my shooting positions and shoot clean. My time was decent but I shot a lot of C’s, and knew I gave up some points on that stage. The last stage of the match was stage 9. That was the house stage with the up and down bobbers in the back.  Ron and I talked about it and I knew that those bobbers would be the key targets for that stage. I had to hit them on their first showing or it would cost me too much time. I didn’t feel too nervous starting the stage, but when I got to my first position I trigger froze and it put my mind in panic mode. I was able to get through the course and hit my key targets without extra shots, but I wound up dropping a lot of points because I was rushing. Then I was the most nervous of the whole match. Now there was nothing left that I could do. Ron told me that I had the lead by about 10 points over Rebecca. She hadn’t shot the stage yet and depending on how she shot could determine the winner of the match. She ended up shooting about the same as I did. She had a little better time which helped gain her a few more points on me. After she shot the stage she immediately came over and gave me a big hug, congratulating me. I wasn’t totally convinced that I had won just yet. Not until I saw the official scores did I truly believe it.

WoUSPSA – What was your best stage?

Megan – Stage 14 was my best which is a little surprising because it was the first stage of that day and I had a re-shoot on it. Re-shoots don’t usually bother me, but we had been waiting quite a while because of the work the ROs had to do with the props. By the time I shot, there were two squads backed up waiting. I saw them and just told myself all I had to do was execute my plan, nothing fancy, just shoot one for one and that nobody cared what I was doing. They just wanted me to finish so they could shoot. That calmed me down and I did just that. I was smooth; I nailed my positions, and didn’t take any extra shots.

WoUSPSA – What was your favorite stage and why?

Megan – I liked stage 6 “Check Please”. This was a good stage because it had a mix of targets; open and danger; static and moving as well as steel. It also allowed competitors different ways to shoot it depending on their shooting style.

WoUSPSA – What did you think of the stages?

Megan – Overall I thought the stages were a good mix of field courses and speed shoots. I like standards stages, so I wouldn’t have minded seeing one at the match. I also like big matches, so a few more stages would have been good for me.

WoUSPSA – You shoot with Rebecca regularly. Do you think you have an advantage being able to train with another lady that pushes you to be better?

Megan – I do think it is an advantage having Rebecca to shoot against regularly. I know that if I don’t practice and give 100% that I will have a tough time, because she is out there practicing and giving 100%.  It is always better to have competition. That is the only way we improve. We have also become friends and are so comfortable shooting with each other. That level of comfort helps at the higher level matches.

WoUSPSA – How is it being able to share shooting with your husband?

Megan – It is great having a built in training partner to practice with and travel with. If one of us doesn’t feel like practicing or dry firing, you do it anyway because the other person is doing it. He pushes me to do better and has taught me just about everything I know about the sport. I am always trying to keep up with him too, so that also helps me improve. Aside from all the “technical” benefits, it’s just fun. It is really nice to participate in something we both enjoy together. We always say we take mini vacations each weekend we travel to a match. That is the best part.

WoUSPSA – Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions.  Do you have any comments you would like to add?

Megan – I would like to say thanks to some of the people who helped get me here. Mike Ahlfeld, my gunsmith for building me two flawless guns that I love and never let me down. Lee and Mark at Range82 were a huge help in allowing me access to their great facility to practice. My work agency for their support by giving me the time and funding to train and attend the US Nationals each year. Al Dvorak of Dvorak Instruments, who built an air recoil system for my open gun so dry firing could be more fun.

I have also had a lot of help and encouragement since I first started. From my very first club match I was surrounded by some of the best shooters in the nation. They took me under their wing and are all like brothers to me. My old shooting team “Team Shooters Paradise” Phil Strader, Todd Sindelar, Mike Seeklander, Eric Lund, BJ Norris and of course Ron Francisco were all instrumental in my development as a shooter. Another influence for me was watching the ladies. They all had different strengths I admired.  Kay Miculek and her consistency, Athena Lee and her aggressiveness, Doni Spencer and her pure athleticism, Julie Goloski – Golob and her movement and ability to always look like she was having fun – even if she had a bad stage, Cheryl Cruz and her speed, Rebecca Jones and her accuracy. They have all made me work harder along the way. Lastly, I have to thank my husband Ron. Without him none of this would have been possible. He is my coach, my training partner, my ammo re-loader, my gunsmith, my travel partner and inspiration in everything I do. He is my best friend ~thank you~

For video links of Megan competing at this year’s nationals, check out Women of USPSA on Facebook.

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Thanks so much to all the women who took the time to interview with us!  Congrats to the Top 8 and all the ladies who competed at this year’s Open Nationals!

The dust has [temporarily] settled in Las Vegas. The 2009 USPSA Open & Production Handgun Nationals are history! Congratulations to our 2009 National Victors!

2009 USPSA Open National Champions are:
Megan Francisco & Max Michel Jr.

Things continue to be hot, dusty and windy at the range. We had some successful moments of streaming and hope to improve our luck tomorrow. The ladies race is tough to gauge due to the fact that not all ladies are on the same squad and have different available stage points.  Here are the latest results posted on USPSA…

Open

Squad 9:
Doni Spencer – 492.9409
Athena Lee – 477.5723
Lisa Munson – 453.8086
Tasha Hanish – 450.7630

Squad 10:
Megan Francisco – 494.7282
Rebecca Jones – 480.9728
Kay Miculek – 472.5903

Production

Squad 9:
Jessie Abbate – 540.3976
Julie Golob – 497.9300
Randi Rogers – 460.8835

Have you seen our You-Tube Channel? We’ve been posting video from the Ladies Super Squad. Check it out!

With the USPSA Handgun Nationals just a few days away, we’re recapping the top shooters of the year, based on the previously hosted USPSA Area Matches around the country.  Unfortunately, Area 2 & 4 aren’t scheduled until later in 2009, but we still have plenty of Area Champions to put upon our pedestal!  Congratulations to all of our Area Winners!

We are also sending well wishes and good luck to each and every woman who is headed to Las Vegas this week for our USPSA Back-To-Back National Championships! And remember, what happens in Vegas …  stays in Vegas!   (Except for what happens at the range.  We’ll proudly be posting updates and results for all categories of each match via Twitter, Facebook, WomenOfUSPSA.com & right here on the blog.)

If you ever get a chance to compete at one of these top-notch Area Matches, by the way, grab it! The experience, effort, creativity and organization that go into these events are practically unmatched!

2009 USPSA Area Match Championship Results – to date:

AREA 1 – Held June 18 through 21 in Parma, Idaho at the Parma Rod & Gun Club. Match Director – Tim Egan
LIMITED – Lisa Munson 1st, Christie King 2nd
LIMITED-10 – Dorrie Davis 1st
OPEN - Jenny Chu 1st,  Carrie Homburg 2nd
PRODUCTION – Carrie Jamrogowicz 1st, Irina Ionescu 2nd
SINGLE STACK – Laura Seurer 1st, Nancy Marrs 2nd

AREA 2 – Begins November 12, 2009 at  Rio Salado Sportsmans Club in Mesa, Arizona.  Match Directors – Paul Caudill & Bob LaMarca

AREA 3 – Held July 30 through August 2 in Omaha, Nebraska.  Hosted by the Eastern Nebraska Practical Shooters.  Match Director – Chris Davies
LIMITED – Nancy Huspek 1st, Gail McLean 2nd
OPEN - Sue VanBlaricum 1st, Bobbi Wagner 2nd
PRODUCTION – Carrie Jamrogowicz 1st, Lisa Johnson 2nd

AREA 4 – Begins October 8, 2009 at the Double Tap Ranch in Wichita Falls, Texas. Match Director – Ken Cobb

AREA 5 – Held June 19 through 21 at the South Kent Sportsmans Club in Dorr, Michigan.  Match Director – Carl Provan
LIMITED – Gail McLean 1st, Susan Powel 2nd
OPEN - Doni Spencer 1st, Sarah Irish 2nd
PRODUCTION – Carrie Carlson 1st
REVOLVER - Sue Irish 1st
SINGLE STACK -TD Roe 1st, Alma Lenard 2nd 

AREA 6 – Held April 17 through 19 at the South River Gun Club in Covington, Georgia.  Match Director – our very own Cindy Noyes!
LIMITED – Jessie Abbate 1st, Tracy Iradi 2nd
LIMITED-10 – Randi Rogers 1st, Kay Miculek 2nd
OPEN - Megan Francisco 1st, Kaci Cochran 2nd
PRODUCTION – Beth Wingfield 1st, Melita Ellington 2nd
REVOLVER -Sue Irish 1st
SINGLE STACK – Nancy Huspek 1st 

AREA 7 – Held August 5 through 9 in Fulton, New York at Pathfinder Fish & Game (which is Julie G’s original home-town range).  Match Director – Milford Lovett
LIMITED – Donna Major 1st, Kathie Sierpina 2nd
LIMITED-10 – Caron Brooks 1st, Evelyn Freeman 2nd
OPEN - Rebecca Jones 1st, Sheila Brey 2nd
REVOLVER -Sue Jenks 1st, Jacqueline Scott 2nd

AREA 8 – Held August 27 through 30 at the Fredericksburg Rod & Gun Club in historic Fredericksburg, Virginia. Match Director – Lew Walker
LIMITED – Jessie Abbate 1st, Tracy Iradi 2nd
LIMITED-10 – Caron Brooks 1st
OPEN - Rebecca Jones 1st, Megan Francisco 2nd
PRODUCTION -Randi Rogers 1st, Tori Nonaka 2nd
REVOLVER -Sue Irish 1st
SINGLE STACK – Tracy Deegan 1st

Well, that’s a wrap!  We’ll close our Road to the Nationals coverage by congratulating the 2008 USPSA Ladies Handgun National Champions:

• Open National Champion – Rebecca T. Jones
• Limited National Champion – Jessie Abbate
• Limited-10 National Champion – Jessie Abbate
• Single Stack National Champion – Lisa Munson
• Production National Champion – Randi Rogers
• Revolver National Champion – Annette Aysen