Coming off a fall season that saw a plethora of record-setting individual and team performances, the rifle team will look to get back into a rhythm this weekend when it hosts the Air Force Falcons at the TCU Rifle Range.Rewriting the record books became common during the 2006 fall campaign as the shooters set new team records for their performances in 60-shot air rifle and aggregate scoring, according to the team’s all-time records. The team also wound up securing the top five individual scores in the 60-shot air rifle event.
With all of the team’s recent success, head coach Karen Monez said she expects much of the same for this weekend and beyond.
Monez said five of the six shooters competed at state shooting competitions during the Winter Break and the extra work will be beneficial this season.
“They have raised the bar,” Monez said. “The scores they’re shooting is at the skill level they’re at.”
Even with some holiday competition, freshman shooter Erin Lorenzen said the team needs to get back on its regular shooting schedule.
Senior shooter Nikki LeCompte said that her time back in Fort Worth has been a little hectic.
“What’s been most stressful has been getting as many hours as I can in (the rifle range),” LeCompte said.
Monez attributes the team’s success to a major turnover in personnel from a year ago. Lorenzen has made significant strides at the college level with more consistent performances, Monez said.
LeCompte said Lorenzen, along with freshman Lauren Sullivan, are building a solid foundation for the future of the program.
“Coming from high school, it’s a big deal to meet up to the standards,” LeCompte said. “(Lorenzen) has definitely exceeded the standards.”
In the last meet of 2006, TCU was in a three-team match that included the Air Force Falcons and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The team finished in second place and scored 70 points more than third-place Air Force in aggregate scoring.
Monez said she expects the team to win both matches Saturday and to play at a much higher level compared to its match last fall against the Falcons.
“The competition has gone up and (Air Force) had a couple extra weeks of practice, but I’m confident we can overcome them again,” Lorenzen said.
