PREVIEW: Young Eagles Looking to Hit the Mark in Rifle
9/27/2019 1:00:00 PM | Women's Rifle
Georgia Southern hosts UAB, Wofford to open the season Saturday at home
STATESBORO - The Georgia Southern rifle team kicks off its 2019-20 campaign on Saturday by hosting Southern Conference rivals UAB and Wofford in a tri-match. The action begins at 8 a.m at the Shooting Sports Education Center on campus and admission is free.
Each squad will have five shooters participating in both the USA Shooting 60-shot 3x20 small bore and 60-shot air rifle disciplines. The top four scores from both disciplines are used to determine the scores.
"We've been studying how to build a process that is reliable in a match, but so far it's all been theory," said head coach Sandra Worman. "Saturday is when we find out if they can, and to the degree, they have been able to turn the corner and apply it in actuality. I expect emotions to be all over the place, especially for our freshmen, but we have to manage those emotions and put them into a context that is supportive and helpful in competition. Honestly, I'm not looking at scores on Saturday. I'm looking at the specific things that happen in the match and how they apply the lessons learned from that immediately to the next shot.
"We're going to be more competitive in small bore this year. The incoming team came in with more experience in small bore right off the bat. Air rifle, in terms of the 60-shot standing, is new to them as they've come from the three-position air rifle, so this is going to be a developing skill set for them. But I really like what we've got together.
Looking to defend their Southern Conference air rifle crown, the new Eagles will be a young one as five freshmen and a senior make up the roster. Here's a brief look at the six women who make up the squad
Lydia Odlin, Senior, Scarbrough, Maine
Competed in all 12 events for the Eagles last season … Was a key part of the SoCon Air Rifle championship … Averaged 533.250 in smallbore and 571.250 in air rifle, combining to average 1,104.500 in aggregate … Had a smallbore high of 544 in the season opener at North Georgia … Twice posted a 577 in air rifle for season highs … Posted a season-high 1,116 aggregate on Nov. 10 at a match at Morehead State … Placed in the top 10 in four separate meets … Shot a 575 in air rifle at the SoCon Championships as the Eagles took the team title for the second time in three seasons … Named a Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholastic All-American.
Coach Worman on Lydia:
"We call her the elder stateswoman, and she is going to be a top-tier leader for us. She's doing a great job on focussing on herself, which she must do as a student-athlete. But she's also finding time to mentor the younger teammates and help them find their best selves."
Faye Bryans, Freshman, Sarasota, Fla.
Attended Sarasota Military Academy, where she was coached by SFC Riess Pellegrino … Competed for Hollywood Rifle and Pistol Club …Was tutored by Jayme Shipley … The 2017 Junior Olympic 3P Smallbore third-place winner at states … The 2018 ASSA National Intermediate Junior Champion in the 3P Smallbore Any Sights … Took second place overall and first in the women's division at the 2018 Sunshine State Games in air rifle … Placed second overall and at the 2018 Sunshine State Games in the 3P Smallbore and won the women's division in the smallbore prone … Earned Montgomery Bell first-place precision team in 2016-2017 … The Boca Ciega 60-shot match third-place winner.
Coach Worman of Faye:
"Faye is the most experienced in terms of international shooting, and we are interested to see how that parlays into the college environment."
Lilly Herring, Freshman, York, Pa.
Attended Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia … Won the state championship for the Virginia Military Schools Rifle League in 2018 Earned the TROTC Military Excellence Award … Also played volleyball.
Coach Worman on Lilly:
"Lilly is doing very well here. She and Amelia are both products of our Summer Success program and they have hit the ground running. Lilly has done a great job of getting her training plan, her journaling and her goal process in order and she is working that plan every day. I'm watching her grow and succeed increasingly every day."
Ashley Judson, Freshman, Acworth, Ga.
Attended Allatoona High School, where she was coached by Sarah Szatkowski … Lettered four times … Earned first-team all-area as both a sophomore and junior … Earned second-team all-state honors as a junior and third-team honors as a sophomore … Won the Area High Standing Award in Spring of 2017 and Spring of 2018 … First-team Gary Anderson, silver medal acquired in Fall of 2017 … Won the Area High Prone Award in Spring of 2018 … Shot club rifle for the A-Team and North Georgia International for coaches Craig Dong and JP O'Connor … Spring 2017 and 2018 Junior Olympics in Ohio (A-Team) … Fall 2018 Gary Anderson (North Georgia International).
Coach Worman on Ashley:
"Ashley is thriving in this Division-I atmosphere, both academically and on the range. The few things she needed equipment-wise, coupled with adding things such as performance journaling, goal setting and being able to tailor her training plans to her needs have helped her excel."
Gabby Morrow, Freshman, Locust Grove, Ga.
Attended Luella High, where she was coached by Ira Watkins … An all-state and All-Area 5 selection as a senior … Also named the Luella High School Rifle Athlete of The Year her final year … Took runner-up honors in Area 12 … Qualified for Navy Nationals, placing fourth … Represented Luella at the 2019 All-Service for first time since 2012 … Went to GHSA State Championships with team for first time since 2012 … Shot club rifle with Georgia Competitive Shooters and Coach Lisa Kelley … A three-position Junior Olympic Qualifier who took first place … Took first at the Dixie Challenge, Orion National Air League and Hinds Invitational … The runner-up at the Orion Virtual Match Tournament … Took third at the Hinds Invitational.
Coach Worman on Gabby:
"Gabby is also thriving in this environment academically and on the range. She has a gifted mind for working through things that come up, and she's a self-starter. I'm excited to see what she puts together year after year, match after match after she can put her whole toolkit in order."
Amelia Pierce, Freshman, Greencastle, Pa.
Attended Greencastle-Antrim High, which did not sponsor rifle … Shot for Antietam Junior Rifle Club and Coach Norris Diefenderfer … Shot in the Air Rifle Grand Prix at US Army West Point … Participated in the Junior Olympics Rifle and Pistol Championship (JORC) at the US Naval Academy … Shot in National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio (outdoor smallbore) … Also shot in the Zippy Open at Akron, the Buckeye Open at Ohio State, the Eagle Open at Morehead State and the Mountaineer Open at West Virginia … Was dual-enrolled in high school and Wilson College.
Coach Worman on Amelia:
"Amelia has a remarkable canvas on which to build skill sets. Meaning, she has not done goal-setting before and hasn't done a lot of mental management. But her receptiveness to these new tools and how she's already applying them shows me that is going to be a strong contender when she gets her whole toolbox set up."
Each squad will have five shooters participating in both the USA Shooting 60-shot 3x20 small bore and 60-shot air rifle disciplines. The top four scores from both disciplines are used to determine the scores.
"We've been studying how to build a process that is reliable in a match, but so far it's all been theory," said head coach Sandra Worman. "Saturday is when we find out if they can, and to the degree, they have been able to turn the corner and apply it in actuality. I expect emotions to be all over the place, especially for our freshmen, but we have to manage those emotions and put them into a context that is supportive and helpful in competition. Honestly, I'm not looking at scores on Saturday. I'm looking at the specific things that happen in the match and how they apply the lessons learned from that immediately to the next shot.
"We're going to be more competitive in small bore this year. The incoming team came in with more experience in small bore right off the bat. Air rifle, in terms of the 60-shot standing, is new to them as they've come from the three-position air rifle, so this is going to be a developing skill set for them. But I really like what we've got together.
Looking to defend their Southern Conference air rifle crown, the new Eagles will be a young one as five freshmen and a senior make up the roster. Here's a brief look at the six women who make up the squad
Lydia Odlin, Senior, Scarbrough, Maine
Competed in all 12 events for the Eagles last season … Was a key part of the SoCon Air Rifle championship … Averaged 533.250 in smallbore and 571.250 in air rifle, combining to average 1,104.500 in aggregate … Had a smallbore high of 544 in the season opener at North Georgia … Twice posted a 577 in air rifle for season highs … Posted a season-high 1,116 aggregate on Nov. 10 at a match at Morehead State … Placed in the top 10 in four separate meets … Shot a 575 in air rifle at the SoCon Championships as the Eagles took the team title for the second time in three seasons … Named a Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholastic All-American.
Coach Worman on Lydia:
"We call her the elder stateswoman, and she is going to be a top-tier leader for us. She's doing a great job on focussing on herself, which she must do as a student-athlete. But she's also finding time to mentor the younger teammates and help them find their best selves."
Faye Bryans, Freshman, Sarasota, Fla.
Attended Sarasota Military Academy, where she was coached by SFC Riess Pellegrino … Competed for Hollywood Rifle and Pistol Club …Was tutored by Jayme Shipley … The 2017 Junior Olympic 3P Smallbore third-place winner at states … The 2018 ASSA National Intermediate Junior Champion in the 3P Smallbore Any Sights … Took second place overall and first in the women's division at the 2018 Sunshine State Games in air rifle … Placed second overall and at the 2018 Sunshine State Games in the 3P Smallbore and won the women's division in the smallbore prone … Earned Montgomery Bell first-place precision team in 2016-2017 … The Boca Ciega 60-shot match third-place winner.
Coach Worman of Faye:
"Faye is the most experienced in terms of international shooting, and we are interested to see how that parlays into the college environment."
Lilly Herring, Freshman, York, Pa.
Attended Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia … Won the state championship for the Virginia Military Schools Rifle League in 2018 Earned the TROTC Military Excellence Award … Also played volleyball.
Coach Worman on Lilly:
"Lilly is doing very well here. She and Amelia are both products of our Summer Success program and they have hit the ground running. Lilly has done a great job of getting her training plan, her journaling and her goal process in order and she is working that plan every day. I'm watching her grow and succeed increasingly every day."
Ashley Judson, Freshman, Acworth, Ga.
Attended Allatoona High School, where she was coached by Sarah Szatkowski … Lettered four times … Earned first-team all-area as both a sophomore and junior … Earned second-team all-state honors as a junior and third-team honors as a sophomore … Won the Area High Standing Award in Spring of 2017 and Spring of 2018 … First-team Gary Anderson, silver medal acquired in Fall of 2017 … Won the Area High Prone Award in Spring of 2018 … Shot club rifle for the A-Team and North Georgia International for coaches Craig Dong and JP O'Connor … Spring 2017 and 2018 Junior Olympics in Ohio (A-Team) … Fall 2018 Gary Anderson (North Georgia International).
Coach Worman on Ashley:
"Ashley is thriving in this Division-I atmosphere, both academically and on the range. The few things she needed equipment-wise, coupled with adding things such as performance journaling, goal setting and being able to tailor her training plans to her needs have helped her excel."
Gabby Morrow, Freshman, Locust Grove, Ga.
Attended Luella High, where she was coached by Ira Watkins … An all-state and All-Area 5 selection as a senior … Also named the Luella High School Rifle Athlete of The Year her final year … Took runner-up honors in Area 12 … Qualified for Navy Nationals, placing fourth … Represented Luella at the 2019 All-Service for first time since 2012 … Went to GHSA State Championships with team for first time since 2012 … Shot club rifle with Georgia Competitive Shooters and Coach Lisa Kelley … A three-position Junior Olympic Qualifier who took first place … Took first at the Dixie Challenge, Orion National Air League and Hinds Invitational … The runner-up at the Orion Virtual Match Tournament … Took third at the Hinds Invitational.
Coach Worman on Gabby:
"Gabby is also thriving in this environment academically and on the range. She has a gifted mind for working through things that come up, and she's a self-starter. I'm excited to see what she puts together year after year, match after match after she can put her whole toolkit in order."
Amelia Pierce, Freshman, Greencastle, Pa.
Attended Greencastle-Antrim High, which did not sponsor rifle … Shot for Antietam Junior Rifle Club and Coach Norris Diefenderfer … Shot in the Air Rifle Grand Prix at US Army West Point … Participated in the Junior Olympics Rifle and Pistol Championship (JORC) at the US Naval Academy … Shot in National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio (outdoor smallbore) … Also shot in the Zippy Open at Akron, the Buckeye Open at Ohio State, the Eagle Open at Morehead State and the Mountaineer Open at West Virginia … Was dual-enrolled in high school and Wilson College.
Coach Worman on Amelia:
"Amelia has a remarkable canvas on which to build skill sets. Meaning, she has not done goal-setting before and hasn't done a lot of mental management. But her receptiveness to these new tools and how she's already applying them shows me that is going to be a strong contender when she gets her whole toolbox set up."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rifle
/ Women's Rifle
/ Women's Rifle
/ Women's Rifle
/ Women's Rifle
/ Women's Rifle
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