ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Isabella Baldwin of the Navy rifle team notched a first-place finish in air rifle at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay on Monday. The Navy junior posted a total score of 249.0 to lead all shooters and earn the gold medal.
 
Held every four years, the Junior Pan American Games features athletes from across North, Central and South America.
 
Junior athletes, 21 years of age or younger, from 41 countries participated across the city of Asunción in various Olympic sports. Athletes who earned a gold medal also secured a by-name quota spot for the 2027 Pan American Games in the event in which they medaled.
 
The athletes representing Team USA were Baldwin (U.S. Naval Academy), Elijah Spencer (University of Alaska Fairbanks), Griffin Lake (West Virginia University), and Braden Peiser (University of Kentucky).
 
Baldwin carded a total score of 249.0 in the event to earn gold, edging her USA teammate Spencer, who earned silver with a 247.8. On the men's side, Peiser and Lake finished first and second in air rifle, respectively, to give Team USA four medals on the day.


 
"It is always an incredible honor to represent the United States in international competition," remarked Baldwin. "I was so proud to be a part of this team and to stand on top of the podium as our flag was raised."
 
"We are all very proud of Isabella," head coach Mike Anti said. "She did an amazing job representing the United States and the Naval Academy at the Junior Pan Am Games. Winning the gold medal also automatically puts her on the US National Team that will compete at the open 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru."
 
Baldwin was atop the leaderboard for the Midshipmen throughout the 2024-25 season, concluding the year atop all three scoring categories. She led the team with a 587.4 average in smallbore and a 596.2 in air rifle for a team-best average of 1183.6 in aggregate. Baldwin was selected as a Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) All-American. She was a first-team honoree in air rifle, while being named second team in smallbore, and third team in aggregate. Additionally, Baldwin earned All-Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) accolades, being tabbed Second Team All-GARC in smallbore, air rifle, and combined.