Junior Madeline Pike and the N.C. State Rifling team shot their way to a 38-7 overall record, going 24-0 in SEARC matches and 1-5 in GARC meets. The team finished up its season ranked 13th in the nation.
On March 2nd, Pike became the fourth-straight SEARC individual champion from N.C. State. She led the Wolfpack to back-to-back team titles at the SEARC Championships. This is the Pack’s 7th conference title in program history.
“Overall the team is proud that we are able to consistently do well in SEARC,” Pike said. “We are regularly able to place several team members in the finals at SEARC championships, and for the last five years, at least to my knowledge, we have been able claim individual champion.”
The team has improved significantly since last year. This is the first year that the team has claimed a victory in the GARC conference and also the first time the team had shooters in the final at the championship.
“Although the team as a whole is very proud of how we did in SEARC, I think we are prouder of our improvement in our other conference, GARC,” Pike said.
Sophomore Dani Foster went into the GARC conference in 8th place and finished in 7th and Pike went into the GARC conference in 5th place and finished in 3rd.
Rifling is not just about shooting and hitting your target. There is a mental toughness to the sport that many people do not realize.
“Being good in rifle is not as easy as it seems,” Pike said. “One of the big aspects that most people look over is the mental game required for this sport. Even for beginners, the mental game is also important because there are so many things to remember.”
During each and every shot, the shooter has to make sure that their position is set up the correct way. They have to focus on breathing properly, aiming, squeezing the trigger with just the right amount of pressure and following through after the shot.
That can really take a toll on an athlete, especially when you have to repeat that process 60 times in one match.
Each team cannot shoot more than 60 shot totals or shoot another competitor’s target or the team gets a penalty. For each competition, the coaches pick the top 5 shooters and the top 4 scores for that event count towards the team total.
“Rifling is one of the few true coed sports, though women’s teams exist, it is the only coed NCAA sport,” Pike said. “So women do indeed compete alongside men in the collegiate arena.”
The team looks to keep its streak and national rank alive next season. Even though the team did outstanding this year, they know they left some things back on the range.
“Next year, we are all hoping to continue this streak of totally awesomeness,” Pike said. “Personally, next year I want to continue to put forth consistent good performances and make sure my team gets there too. Even when we did well this year, we would still come off the line knowing we left a few points on the table. “
“I hope that next year we will all be able to come off the line and say that we did totally awesome and that there is nothing more I could have done.”
