Bulloch County Sheriff Noel Brown recently recognized Sgt. Jim Riggs for leading the Georgia Southern Eagles women's rifle team to a win at the recent 2017 Southern Conference Rifle Championship held in Charleston, South Carolina.

According to the university's athletics website, www.gseagles.com, "The Eagles took the team title on the final day of the competition, clearing No. 20-ranked North Georgia by 2 points."

GS placed third in aggregate standings as well.

The team is in its fourth season of competition, and Riggs has been head coach for two years. This championship, "held on the campus of The Citadel, saw the first contesting of the SoCon Championships since the league ended sponsorship of the sport in 1985," according to the site.

"Georgia Southern shot nearly 9 points higher than its season average to stun the Nighthawks, who led the league with an average of 2301.00 entering the championship. The Eagles' 2296 was their third-highest score of the season."

Courtney Weekley earned second-team All-SoCon in both small bore and air rifle disciplines, placing ninth with the .22 and seventh in the air rifle's knockout final. Tori Lewis picked up First Team All-SoCon honors on the air rifle with a fourth-place finish in the knockout final, the site said.

Brown praised Riggs for "outstanding leadership" in coaching the 2017 GS rifle team. Riggs is a member of the Bulloch County Crime Suppression Team, the Sheriff's Office Tactical Team commander and a sniper. He has been with the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office for more than 15 years.

"There are many deputies of the Sheriff's Office who serve the community in more ways than one can imagine," Brown said. "Sgt. Riggs' expertise in firearms is also beneficial as he leads civilian firearms classes for citizens of the community."

For more information about civilian firearms classes, contact the Sheriff's Office at (912) 764-8888.