The purpose of the “Shooter Spotlight” is to help shooters get to know their fellow competitors a little bit better. We cover a wide range of shooters from “Marksman to Master.” This is the 19th interview in the series.
Where do you call home?
I was raised on the coast of Maine but have lived in Charleston SC for the past 18 years.
How long have you been shooting?
I started when I was 9 years old and competed through college at Murray State University. I put down my guns upon graduation in 1991 and picked them back up two years ago with the newly revived goal of making the 2012/2016 Olympic Team (s) in Mens Prone.
How did you get involved in shooting competitively?
After an NRA Gun Safety Course, my classmates and I were taken to an indoor range to do some live-fire. It was apparent from the beginning that I had a definitive aptitude for shooting accurately. My father suggested competing indoors so I tried it out. At the age of 13, I won the Subjunior National Prone Championship at Camp Perry and shooting had become my primary sport from then on.
What is a little known fact about yourself that your fellow competitors might not know?
I was Ranger in the army for a while so handling bad weather is a big advantage for me! The worse it gets, the better! 🙂
What do you consider your finest shooting achievement.
Other than the national title as a very young man, I think the events of the past two years leading up to my 5th place finish at the USA Nationals (Mens Prone – Ft Benning) last summer are a series of achievements I will look back on and enjoy. Truthfully however, the best is yet to come. My two years of “practice” have positioned me in the top 10 in the country and increasing scores and ability have paved the way for making World Cup Teams, a possible win at Perry, and looking ahead to the next Olympic Trials.
What is your favorite pre-match meal?
Favorite?! My meals during competition actually start the night before. I shot a 597 and a 595 at Benning this year. One previous night I had enjoyed some spicy thai food with Armando Ayala and an all-you-can-eat barbeque chicken meal with Upta! Those meals were goooooood! Seriously, however, I would say that a couple of eggs, some home fries, toast, oatmeal/cereal, juice, and a few glasses of water is my staple of the match morning. Yum.
What is your favorite post match drink?
Since I don’t drink alcohol any more (for health reasons only!), I think a nice glass/pitcher of cool water does the trick.
Do you have a favorite shooting range?
Hmmm. My range here in Charleston is a great range – mostly because it’s a very difficult range to shoot good scores. The wind, mirage, light conditions due to the orientation, and the quick-tempered nature of the climate makes for great training. People get demoralized when they come here to compete. It’s that tough! But I’d have to say that my favorite range is at the USAMU facilities at Benning. I like the single bull advantages, the painful duration 60 shots entails, and the people. Perry would be next. The range itself is relatively easy to shoot, and the people are great and everyone there is having a good time competing. I went to Perry for the first time in almost 30 years last summer. I rekindled many old relationships in one short week. It was great.
Do you have any short term and/or long term goals?
Short Term:World Cup Team Qualification, Perry Win
Long Term: Olympic Team 2012/2016
What shooting skill are currently focusing your energy on?
The first year after returning to the sport, I spent my time upgrading equipment and focusing on the basics: sight picture, trigger control, follow through, testing/matching. The next six months were spent micro-refining my position with a focus on relaxation, mind control, breathing, eye relief, and single shot (“every shot is the whole match”) mentality. Today, all my time is spent on noptel analysis and live fire results with an extremely heavy focus on my “process” and shooting only 10.3s or better and Xs. I rotate the focus through my sight picture, right shoulder/arm/hand relaxation, and especially on my NPA after taking “rests” while shooting 60 to 100 (record) shot prone practices. Having the ability to shoot all tens, rest, then come back to shooting all tens has been a big help during my USA matches.
Thanks Bart for sharing a little bit about yourself with the pronematch.com community!
