West Springfield is ‘Spartan’ strong after grad’s Olympic win

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West Springfield is ‘Spartan’ strong after grad’s Olympic win

In this image provided by USA Shooting, Ginny Thrasher is shown at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Smallbore at Fort Benning, Ga., in April. Thrasher was a surprise double NCAA champion as a freshman and followed that up by winning the U.S. Olympic Trials three weeks later. After a run like that, there’s no reason to think she can’t win Olympic gold in Rio. (USA Shooting via AP)

USA Shooting via AP

Virginia Thrasher of the United States celebrates winning a shootout to secure the gold medal in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle event at Olympic Shooting Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

Gold medal winner, Virginia Thrasher of the United States, sings along with the U.S. national anthem after receiving the gold medal during the victory ceremony for the Women’s 10m Air Rifle event at Olympic Shooting Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

Virginia Thrasher of the United States celebrates with her coach winning the gold medal during the victory ceremony for the Women’s 10m Air Rifle event, at Olympic Shooting Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

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By Ralph Fox
海角精品黑料 Reporter

WASHINGTON 鈥� The West Springfield Spartans were聽Spartan聽strong聽Saturday after news that graduate Ginny Thrasher, 19, was the first to win a gold medal for Team USA, pulling off an upset in the women’s 10-meter air rifle event Saturday morning.

While many are no doubt celebrating the win, her neighbors took time out to remember the girl who baby-sat their grandchildren.

鈥淪he turned those air rifle talents into a scholarship at West Virginia University,鈥� neighbor Harry Watkins聽said.

Watkins, who lives a few doors down from the Thrashers, said聽he believes the fame of winning won鈥檛 change the teen he鈥檚 known since she was small. He says the day she gets back from Rio, she鈥檒l be packing her bags and driving down to WVU to start the fall semester.

She will compete again Thursday in the women鈥檚 50-meter rifle event.

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