Women's rifle team ready to turn over new leaf

After a difficult ending to last season, the Nebraska women's rifle team is more determined to prove themselves this year.
The team finished second at its qualifying match last year and needed other teams to lose to reach the NCAA tournament. That didn't happen, and coach Morgan Hicks called missing the tournament "heartbreaking."
"They were kind of embarrassed last year when they didn't make it, and they don't want to go through that again," Hicks said.
Senior Christine Costello said missing the tournament was something they'd never expected entering the season.
"We have a lot of dedication and a lot motivation," Costello said. "Coming off that last year, everybody wants it more this year, and I think that you see that on the line. You can see the hard work."
Costello has taken on the role as team leader for the past few years and said they're not limiting themselves based on last year's 5-6 record. They're hoping to raise the bar as a team and push each other to new expectations.
"Because of the experience I've had, I've been able to do a little bit more of showing others what to do," Costello said. "The transition from last year to this year has been less stressful."
The transition has been easier for Costello for a number of reasons. She now knows what she has to do after four years of being on the team, and it makes things more relaxed for her.
She also has teammate freshman Joyce Kim, and both hail from the same home state. Kim is from Gilbert, Ariz., and Costello is from Queen Creek.
"We grew up shooting together, so it almost feels like the good old days," Costello said. "When I'd go home, I'd always see her out practicing. Having her here is weird but kind of the same."
Costello and Kim participated on the same air rifle team before college as well.
"She was like the role model to look after," Kim said. "It's nice that I had somebody that I knew really well."
With no one from the team graduating last year, Costello leads a young rifle team. This year, there are six returners and two freshmen.
"We have started fresh this year and kind of put last year aside," Hicks said. "We are ready to start new this year."
Hicks has taken a new approach to the season in the hopes of turning things around. She's added an extra day of cardio during the week, and the team has a psychologist come in every two weeks to work on team-building and to help with nerves in pressure situations.
"They've really taken to that, and we've increased the intensity of practices," Hick said. "They know we are stepping it up a level. We have to step it up a level if we want to be competitive with the rest of the nation."
The NU rifle team will begin its season Friday morning at the Nebraska Rifle Range when they take on Air Force. Last year, NU beat Air Force by 26 points.
"We've definitely stepped it up and we are ready to shoot this match," Hicks said.