Rifle team hopes to ‘go out with a bang’ at NCAAs

After more than four months of competition, freshman Janine Dutton was ready for her moment.

At the Great American Rifle Conference Championships this past weekend, Dutton overcame the pressure of the moment to lead the Nebraska rifle team to a third place finish. Individually, Dutton posted season-high numbers in both air rifle and smallbore to finish third.

Although the real test for Dutton and the team will come at the NCAA championships, she thinks the experience will help them face the challenge.

"This weekend for me was a chance to practice my mental approach to shoot in pressure situations," Dutton said. "The fact that I did well just reinforces my confidence that I can do well at NCAAs."

Officially, the field for the NCAA tournament hasn't been set, but NU coach Morgan Hicks said the unofficial numbers have the team in the eight-team tournament. Either way, Hicks said her team is preparing for the tournament and being able to shoot under pressure.
Hicks said that even though her team has been consistent, they all need to perform well at the same time if they hope to contend at the NCAA championships.

"We need to step it up," Hicks said. "Hopefully we can fine-tune what we need to in the next couple of weeks and make a push here towards the end."

This weekend, the Huskers matched their score from their Feb. 13 NCAA qualifier. Individually, Dutton's combined score of 1,172 was ten points higher than any other individual performance by a Husker this season.

According to Hicks, Dutton's performance is an example of how valuable experience can be toward building confidence.

"Each match is another match of experience that allows the girls to pinpoint where they need to improve," Hicks said. "I think (the willingness to improve) is spreading and that when one of them figures it out, it inspires the rest of them to step up."

For Dutton, the weekend was important for proving her place on the team.

"Being able to contribute the way I did proves what I am capable of and that my scores aren't just flukes," Dutton said.

The NCAA championships start March 12 in Fort Worth, Texas, which gives the team almost three weeks to prepare. With the extra time, Hicks said the team is going to slightly modify its training, including adding a practice match. The challenge, Hicks said, comes in preparing for the biggest match of the year, while trying not to be overly bombastic and lose sight of the simple things.

"We need to take that next step and be more competitive," Hicks said. "We also need to learn to not settle for the shots we shouldn't be taking."

"It's a higher pressure match, but this is it. We want to go out with a bang."

patradigan
@dailynebraskan.com