Jake Latola
Formerly a competitive tournament golfer during the short Minnesota summers, Jake Latola changed gears and made a commitment to action shooting in 2013 after a back injury forced him to set his clubs aside. Over the last several years, Jake has become a familiar name in the upper echelon of 3-Gun competitors in the Tactical Optics Division, amassing numerous major match wins and over a dozen trips to the podium. “3-Gun has provided me opportunities to challenge myself, continue to develop my skills and leverage the experience I’ve gained,” says Jake. “Given the breadth of skills required to be proficient in this game, there’s always something you can work to improve!”
In addition to being an elite competitor, Jake shares his experience as an instructor at various development classes catering to both new and experienced shooters alike as a member of the MN 3-Gun Group Instructor Cadre. “The way I approach shooting and instruction consists of a foundation of fundamentals that enable the shooter to execute a hierarchy of attributes that ultimately drive performance,” says Jake. “It’s rewarding to see shooters ‘put the pieces together!’”
“The first time I fired a complete JP rifle, I fired a total of six rounds and knew immediately that the quality and performance was, without a doubt, 'Best in Class,' and that I would see an improvement in sight tracking thanks to the recoil reduction properties of a fine-tuned JP operating system,” recalls Jake. “I spent my first two years shooting competitively trying to make my rifle 'like a JP,' but I realized there is no substitute for the quality and innovation JP Enterprises has consistently delivered in the AR platform.”
Outside of shooting, Jake is employed as an Engineer for a large, Minnesota-based conglomerate, often traveling around the country supporting manufacturing operations and equipment. Beyond that, you can likely find him spending time with his family while enjoying a number of outdoor activities.
Match Highlights:
- 2015 3-Gun Nation Pro Series Qualifier - 10th Place
- 2015 Missouri 3-Gun Championship - 7th Place Tac Ops
- 2015 3-Gun Nation Pro Series Event
- 2015 3-Gun Nation Southern Regional - 9th Place Tac Ops
- 2015 Nordic Components Tactical Shotgun Championship - 1st Place Tactical
- 2015 3-Gun Nation Eastern Regional - 7th Place TacOps
- 2015 Jeff Kirkwold Memorial Shootoff Match - 1st Place Shootoff Champion
- 2014 Nordic Components Tactical Shotgun Championship - 5th Place Tactical
- 2014 3-Gun Nation Midwest Regional - 8th Place Tac Ops
- 2014 Task Force Dagger 3-Gun - 33rd Place Tac Ops
- 2013 Nordic Components Tactical Shotgun Championship - 6th Place Tactical
- 2013 Blue Ridge Mountain 3-Gun - 36th Place Tac Ops
Equipment:
- Rifle: 18” JP CTR-02 w/ Vortex Razor Gen II 1-6x
- PCC: 16" JP GMR-15 w/ Vortex Venom red dot
- Trainer: 18" JP-22/CTR-02 w/ Vortex Razor Gen II 1-6X
- Shotgun: Benelli Vinci
- Handgun: Custom 9mm STI 2011
- Belt: Safariland ELS with Safariland mag pouches, Taccom shotshell caddies, and G-Code XST holster
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