MOULTRIE — Hartsfield’s Emma Simpson is preparing for another year of traveling the globe as a member of USA Shooting’s trapshooting National Team.

The Colquitt County High graduate and Abraham Baldwin College student was second in the Open Division and took first place in the Junior Division at USA Shooting’s recent Fall Selection Match held at the International Shooting Park at Fort Carson, Colo.

Her runner-up finish was her best ever in the open division.

A veteran of the National Team, Simpson scored a 246 in the open division to finish just eight points behind Staff Sgt. Joetta Dement of Seale, Ala., who had a 254. Theresa Dewitt was third with a 243 and Collyn Loper, with a 238, was fourth.

Simpson also beat Loper to win the junior women’s title. Simpson had a 245, followed by Loper’s 238.

Colquitt County’s Abel Eubanks also performed well in the Fall Selection Match, finishing in the top six in 16-18 age group and 13th overall.

This Fall Selection Match doubled as the first half of both the 2005 World Clay Target Championship Team selection and the Championship of the Americas (CAT) Team selection. The second half of these selection matches will be held Mar. 16-26, at Fort Benning’s Shotgun Ranges in Columbus.

USA Shooting is recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee as the governing body for Olympic shooting sports.

The outstanding performance in the Fall Selection Match capped productive year for Simpson.

She was second overall in the women’s division in the World Cup competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil last spring.

In August, she finished second to Amanda Dorman of Colorado Springs, Colo., in the Junior Women Division at the Junior Olympic Nationals, also held in Colorado Springs.

And she teamed with Mimi Wilfong of Trinidad, Texas, to win the junior women’s team championship.

Next year looks to be another busy one for Simpson, who has become a seasoned traveler shooting at shotgun events in the country and around the world.

She will have time to rest and practice the rest of this month, but will be on the go plenty in 2005, starting with an event in Las Vegas in late January.

The Spring Selection Match is scheduled for March at Fort Benning and a World Cup match will be held in May in Italy. In July, there is another World Cup match scheduled for Belgrade.

Another World Cup match in Brazil and the Grand American will be held in August, as will the Junior Olympic National Championships.

Next fall brings the Fall Selection Match in October and the CAT Games in South America and the World Cup finals in Dubai.

Simpson said many of her ABAC instructors, especially math teacher Joann Callahan, have been understanding as she misses class to attend competitions.