I'm a life long Alaskan with a passion for shooting that started
with my fathers encouragement. In
December, 2002 I finished my third season of scholastic competitive shooting
as Captain of our undefeated team and tied with my team mate and best friend for a Region IV record.
My plans for the future involve shooting.
I want to compete at a collegiate level and dream of representing the United
States in Olympic competition.
When I'm not on the range I can often be found studying, reading, talking to
friends, playing with web design, trying (and usually failing) to play the
guitar, or spending time with family. On Sundays I also help out with the
1-5th graders at Sunday school.
I attend Robert Service High School in Anchorage, Alaska. Although I'm
enrolled in many advanced classes, my favorite this past semester were AP
Language and AP Psychology.
The summer of 2003 has left very little time for relaxation. In late June I traveled with my team to Wilmington, North Carolina to compete in the National Junior Olympic 3-Position Precision Air Rifle Championship. After the competition, my family took a vacation trip through the "historic triangle" and on to Washington, DC. I learned a tremendous amount about our nations history.
Returning to Alaska, I had six days to prepare for an invitational "High Performance Rifle Shooting Clinic" held in Jacksonville, Florida. The instructors for this clinic were National Development Coach, J.P. O'Connor and World Champion shooter, Jamie Beyerle. In Jacksonville, I honed skills in air rifle and was introduced to 3-position smallbore with borrowed equipment. Over six days of competition and drills, I earned the "most improved" award in smallbore .
Returning home after the clinic, I started work at a local law firm as a file clerk. I also started practicing at an outdoor range a couple times a week with my new "Anschutz 2012" ! Just after receiving the rifle, I entered a prone and a 50 meter 3P match held by local clubs to get a little more outdoor experience before the snow falls. Smallbore is different from 3P air, since the rifle stock has more adjustment. I know that once I find the right adjustments, the smallbore rifle will fit me much better than the air rifle ever has while shooting 3P.
School started in September, 2003 and I've placed a lot of emphasis on improving my overall GPA. Scholastics are going well and the GPA is coming up! I'm shooting 3P air rifle team practice / matches five days a week. The indoor smallbore range is about 60 miles from my house, so once a week is about the best I can manage for smallbore practice between school and the air rifle team.
After a couple of months of approximately once a week practice with my new Anschutz, I finally had an opportunity to participate in my first "official" indoor 3-P smallbore match in December, 2003. It was tough competition because it was the State 3-P Junior Olympic Qualifier! My score was not what I had hoped (547 / 600), but I suppose you have to start somewhere.
Also in December, I took first place in the State Junior Olympic 10 Meter Air Rifle Qualifier and finished up my high school 3-P air rifle season with shooting a 581 / 600 which broke the previous State Region IV record (that I tied last year). Even so, I finished in 4th place in this match with first going to a new Region IV record score of 588. The competition was tougher this year, but my team again won the Regional Championship (for the 3rd year in a row). The team is quite pumped that we've gone undefeated against five other high schools through a three year series of twenty nine matches!
With the high school 3-P air rifle season over in December, I switched focus to smallbore early in January, 2004. With the switch, my scores improved dramatically. I took first place in the Alaska Junior 4-P and 3-P smallbore sectionals held in January and second place in the open 4P smallbore sectional in February. First place was just one point ahead of me in the open! I'm pleased that my smallbore performance improved quickly once I was able to devote some time and attention to it.
In late February, I switched back to air rifle to prepare for the upcoming State 3P Junior Olympic Qualification Match on February 28, 2004. My team took first, qualifying us to go to the nationals in July. I was third overall.
After this match, I focused on preparing for the National Junior Olympic 10 meter air rifle tournament in Colorado Springs in March. My scores and place improved over last year in Colorado Springs, but I wanted (and am capable) of better!
That's the latest....!
Katy