2008 Woodie Awards
JSU Rifle falls short of NCAA dreams
Chad Hoffman
Issue date: 2/16/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The Jacksonville State University rifle team competed in the NCAA sectionals this past weekend in Oxford, Miss., on the University of Mississippi campus.
The results are not yet final; however, the Gamecocks, having lost the last three matches before going into sectionals, feel as though they will not compete at nationals because of the low shooting scores posted by the entire team. Senior James Hall feels as though the team mindset was there at sectionals, but they were not there as a team.
"I feel that we could have done better than what we did," said Joseph Hall. "We shot strong, but it wasn't the strongest that we have ever shot."
Jacksonville State fell just one point shy of the national title last year behind the United States Military Academy. This year, however, is a different story. The Gamecocks will not be traveling as a team to compete at nationals.
Meanwhile, James and Joseph are preparing to go to nationals and compete individually in air rifle and smallbore, respectively.
At sectionals, Joseph shot a 591 out of 600 to take first place in air rifle. This was one of Joseph's better air rifle scores and he feels as though he did very well.
"I felt very confident in individuals this weekend," said Joseph. "My air rifle score was strong. I felt very good going into air rifle and I was very pleased with my score and the turnout."
James shot a 590 out of 600 to capture first place in smallbore. James seems to have stepped it up coming from a 583 just one week ago, to shooting a 590 this past week.
"I believe that I went out there with a mindset of winning," said James. "My air rifle score was 584, one point under my goal. I knew going into this event that I needed to shoot a better smallbore score because that is what I want to compete with at nationals."
The Gamecocks will be closing out their long season this weekend. They are looking to prove themselves as they travel to Martin, Tenn., and compete in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament for their final meet of the season.
The results are not yet final; however, the Gamecocks, having lost the last three matches before going into sectionals, feel as though they will not compete at nationals because of the low shooting scores posted by the entire team. Senior James Hall feels as though the team mindset was there at sectionals, but they were not there as a team.
"I feel that we could have done better than what we did," said Joseph Hall. "We shot strong, but it wasn't the strongest that we have ever shot."
Jacksonville State fell just one point shy of the national title last year behind the United States Military Academy. This year, however, is a different story. The Gamecocks will not be traveling as a team to compete at nationals.
Meanwhile, James and Joseph are preparing to go to nationals and compete individually in air rifle and smallbore, respectively.
At sectionals, Joseph shot a 591 out of 600 to take first place in air rifle. This was one of Joseph's better air rifle scores and he feels as though he did very well.
"I felt very confident in individuals this weekend," said Joseph. "My air rifle score was strong. I felt very good going into air rifle and I was very pleased with my score and the turnout."
James shot a 590 out of 600 to capture first place in smallbore. James seems to have stepped it up coming from a 583 just one week ago, to shooting a 590 this past week.
"I believe that I went out there with a mindset of winning," said James. "My air rifle score was 584, one point under my goal. I knew going into this event that I needed to shoot a better smallbore score because that is what I want to compete with at nationals."
The Gamecocks will be closing out their long season this weekend. They are looking to prove themselves as they travel to Martin, Tenn., and compete in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament for their final meet of the season.