2008 Woodie Awards
Rifle claims smallbore National Championship
Chad Hoffman
Issue date: 3/17/06 Section: Sports
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National Champs?
Yes they are.
The Jacksonville State rifle team claimed their first ever smallbore National Championship one week ago in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the NCAA National Rifle Championships.
The red and white finished ten points ahead of Alaska-Fairbanks (2329) and the University of Nebraska claimed third with a score of 2322.
JSU won the Air Rifle Championship last year and fell two points shy of the championship in both guns.
The Gamecocks won the Ohio Valley Conference title three weeks ago and learned the next week that they would only be competing in smallbore, which upset the team, but did not dampen their spirit.
So, the team got in the right mindset and practiced only smallbore for the next two weeks.
They felt really confident going into the championship and were there to prove that they had what it took to take home the trophy.
The team picked up their game and started shooting like they should, as a team and not as individuals.
"We finally shot as a team," says Senior James Hall. "When Crystal was shooting, we were concerned about Crystal. When Joseph and Michael were shooting, we were concerned about them. We were taking each other's equipment up there and helping each other."
After the first three relays, James shot in the last relay and the team sat back and waited to see if they would pull off the win or not.
"When you got the top shooters in the county shooting right there," said Michael Dickinson, "even in prone and standing, my heart was beating just because you were waiting for the next shot, and who is going to drop. That was the most intense relay that I have ever watched in my life."
The Gamecocks placed three of their four shooters in the finals, which contained only eight shooters. Dickinson won a tiebreaker that put him in the finals.
Brothers James and Joseph tied with a score of 588, and were followed by teammates Dickinson (583) and Crystal Arndt (580).
Yes they are.
The Jacksonville State rifle team claimed their first ever smallbore National Championship one week ago in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the NCAA National Rifle Championships.
The red and white finished ten points ahead of Alaska-Fairbanks (2329) and the University of Nebraska claimed third with a score of 2322.
JSU won the Air Rifle Championship last year and fell two points shy of the championship in both guns.
The Gamecocks won the Ohio Valley Conference title three weeks ago and learned the next week that they would only be competing in smallbore, which upset the team, but did not dampen their spirit.
So, the team got in the right mindset and practiced only smallbore for the next two weeks.
They felt really confident going into the championship and were there to prove that they had what it took to take home the trophy.
The team picked up their game and started shooting like they should, as a team and not as individuals.
"We finally shot as a team," says Senior James Hall. "When Crystal was shooting, we were concerned about Crystal. When Joseph and Michael were shooting, we were concerned about them. We were taking each other's equipment up there and helping each other."
After the first three relays, James shot in the last relay and the team sat back and waited to see if they would pull off the win or not.
"When you got the top shooters in the county shooting right there," said Michael Dickinson, "even in prone and standing, my heart was beating just because you were waiting for the next shot, and who is going to drop. That was the most intense relay that I have ever watched in my life."
The Gamecocks placed three of their four shooters in the finals, which contained only eight shooters. Dickinson won a tiebreaker that put him in the finals.
Brothers James and Joseph tied with a score of 588, and were followed by teammates Dickinson (583) and Crystal Arndt (580).