Pick your target. All you can feel is the weight of the gun wearing down on your shoulder. The heat and your nerves are itching as a bullet of sweat runs down your face. All you can hear is your heartbeat, and then it stops. Just as you pull the trigger, you feel the blow of the rifle against your body and your heart in sync with the bullet as it leaves the chamber.

Handling high pressure and loaded guns is nothing new to the No. 10 NC State co-ed rifle team (23-4, 17-0 SEARC).

After winning its fourth consecutive SEARC championship last year, the Pack looks to build off its success for this season. The Wolfpack did just that in October as it opened up the season with a three-match winning streak that included a triumph against No. 14 Navy. 

The win against Navy shot the team up seven spots in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) polls to No. 10.

Since then, the Wolfpack has been breaking records and taking names. NC State has broken the program record for smallbore, while individual shooters such as sophomore Caitlyn Ford broke the record for the air rifle event at No. 10 Army. 

“Honestly my thoughts weren’t even about Army, it was more about just shooting the best I can.” Ford said. “Only thing I had in mind was breaking my personal record in smallbore and air rifle.”

Junior Lucas Kozeniesky also broke the NC State record for total aggregate score in a feat against No. 7 Mississippi and has been leading the team in both rifle events since its second match. Kozeniesky uses his scores as examples of leadership. 

“It’s leading by example, that [makes] those scores consistently up there possible,” Kozeniesky said. “That training at the intensity that I am training at is maintainable.”

Following its opening streak, the Wolfpack has also been able to gun down nationally ranked teams such as No. 16 Ole Miss, No. 10 Army and No. 3 Kentucky. 

Sophomore Derya Pekari credits intra-team competition as motivating factors in this year’s success.

“Everything we do is for each other, that has been the biggest change this year,” Pekari said. “The reason we are shooting such good scores is because we are working really well as a team, everyone is building each other up. When my teammate succeeds it feels like my success.” 

Head coach Keith Miller credits their confidence for the rise in his program this year.

“The biggest thing they did was all the kids started believing in themselves and believing in each other and seeing success,” Miller said.

This past weekend, the Wolfpack faced a loss to the reigning three-time national champion, No.1 West Virginia, sending the Wolfpack home with a loss, leaving it with a 23-4 record. 

The Rifle team will compete again at the NCAA Qualifier at The Citadel Feb. 20. This is the last opportunity for the Pack to get ranked in the Top 8 for the nation, which would qualify it for a shot at the NCAA Championships.

“Our team goal is to make Top 8,” Pekari said. “We wanna make NCAA’s, we’re hungry for it.”

Regardless of whether NC State makes the NCAA Championships, it’s definitely on the path to shoot a 10.9.

“If we don’t make Top 8 next year, we know it’s coming next year,” Pekari said. “We really feel like it can be a championship team.”