The Will to Win
October 22, 2010 03:28 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Andy Lamson is one cool customer. Rarely rattled, and always aware of his surroundings, the West Virginia University senior speaks in an even-measured tone and articulates his words like a Pulitzer Prize-winning author pens his thoughts.
Yet, there is one talking point that makes Lamson’s blood boil. One subject that, though not off limits, clearly affects the Colchester, Vt., native so deeply that his voice fluctuates with a passion that surprises even a familiar acquaintance.
The 2010 NCAA Rifle Championships.
As the reigning champions, the Mountaineers entered last year’s national championships as the perceived favorites. Any rifle student-athlete would be the first to say that there is no such thing as a “favorite” – success in the sport of rifle is dictated by which team and shooter is performing the best at a specific time.
Lamson and his teammates understood this logic, and yet they still felt confident as they approached the defense of their 2009 title. They had every right – the Mountaineers entered the championships as the nation’s No. 1 team with an 11-0 record and had in their possession the Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) regular-season and postseason titles.
Despite the team’s strong season and previous achievements, a sequel to 2009’s success was not in the Mountaineers’ cards. After falling to third place through the smallbore competition, WVU was too far behind host TCU, and with a fifth-place air rifle finish, the Mountaineers had to settle for third place overall.
Lamson says the loss still stings, and even the undefeated regular season couldn’t dull the immediate pain.
“I think, this year, we need to not worry about winning every match,” the two-time first team National Rifle Association (NRA) air rifle All-American said. “We want to win every match, but it doesn’t really matter. We did that last year, and then lost the final one. This year, we want to win that final match. It doesn’t matter how many wins we get along the way. It’s what we do in March that counts.”
Lamson, along with his six classmates, understand that this season is their final chance for another NCAA title. After renewing the Mountaineer rifle legacy, and winning the program’s nation-best 14th title in 2009, his mind is solely focused on one mission.
“I just have to try to win that last one,” he said with certainty. “There’s nothing else you can do.”
Lamson’s skill set will undoubtedly help the Mountaineers in their quest. A proven two-gun specialist, he paced the team in air rifle last season with a program-best average of 588.38. His combined score season average (1165.54) also ranked second on the team. Multiple awards back Lamson’s numbers. In addition to his two first-team honors, Lamson owns three more NRA All-America accolades and also has been named an all-GARC shooter six times over the last two seasons.
Yet, even Lamson, a business and economics major and a two-time ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American, sometimes doubts his own ability. In an effort to keep himself focused, and to boost his morale during tough in-match moments, he has put together a card of mantras and goals that he keeps next to his side at the range.
“When I’m shooting well, I’m in a rhythm and I’m focused,” he explained. “I know I just have to be in a rhythm. If I shoot a couple of 9s in a row, I have to stop, relax, shoot some dry fires and then get back in there.”
Lamson credits his former teammate, All-American Bryant Wallizer, for his current focus phrase.
“Last year, Bryant would say ‘10 center’ when he shot,” Lamson said. “I expanded on it and now say ‘Be aggressive! 10 center.’ I feel like if I’m not aggressive when I shoot, I shoot more 9s.”
How does a shooter stay aggressive?
“As soon as you see a 10, take it,” he said. “Don’t over think the shot. Just take it. It works a lot better.”
Lamson will have to be ultra aggressive when TCU visits Morgantown this weekend. In what is shaping up to be one of the premier matches of the 2010-11 rifle season, the No. 1-ranked Mountaineers will play host to the No. 2-ranked and reigning NCAA champion Horned Frogs on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 8 a.m., at the WVU Rifle Range.
TCU will be riding a wave of confidence when they take to the line. Coming off the program’s first national title, the Horned Frogs shot a winning score of 4687 last weekend against UTEP, a program-best mark.
“They are going to have a lot of confidence this weekend,” Lamson said. “I doubt they’ll shoot another 4687, but they’re capable. They’re really good.”
In keeping with his new philosophy, Lamson is not concentrating on defeating the Horned Frogs this weekend. While he would like to advance the Mountaineers’ 18-match regular season win streak, he stresses that development and weekly progression are the keys to WVU winning its 15th national title come March.
“I think after winning all of the (regular season) matches last season, we just expected to win the championship again,” he said. “Then, when we didn’t, it was a big shock. We had to recover from that. I don’t want to say we’re more focused now, but we know we can lose the championship. We have to win that title.”
With such evident conviction and desire, one can not help but believe that the Mountaineers will see this mission through to the end this season.
Yet, there is one talking point that makes Lamson’s blood boil. One subject that, though not off limits, clearly affects the Colchester, Vt., native so deeply that his voice fluctuates with a passion that surprises even a familiar acquaintance.
The 2010 NCAA Rifle Championships.
As the reigning champions, the Mountaineers entered last year’s national championships as the perceived favorites. Any rifle student-athlete would be the first to say that there is no such thing as a “favorite” – success in the sport of rifle is dictated by which team and shooter is performing the best at a specific time.
Lamson and his teammates understood this logic, and yet they still felt confident as they approached the defense of their 2009 title. They had every right – the Mountaineers entered the championships as the nation’s No. 1 team with an 11-0 record and had in their possession the Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) regular-season and postseason titles.
Despite the team’s strong season and previous achievements, a sequel to 2009’s success was not in the Mountaineers’ cards. After falling to third place through the smallbore competition, WVU was too far behind host TCU, and with a fifth-place air rifle finish, the Mountaineers had to settle for third place overall.
Lamson says the loss still stings, and even the undefeated regular season couldn’t dull the immediate pain.
“I think, this year, we need to not worry about winning every match,” the two-time first team National Rifle Association (NRA) air rifle All-American said. “We want to win every match, but it doesn’t really matter. We did that last year, and then lost the final one. This year, we want to win that final match. It doesn’t matter how many wins we get along the way. It’s what we do in March that counts.”
Lamson, along with his six classmates, understand that this season is their final chance for another NCAA title. After renewing the Mountaineer rifle legacy, and winning the program’s nation-best 14th title in 2009, his mind is solely focused on one mission.
“I just have to try to win that last one,” he said with certainty. “There’s nothing else you can do.”
Lamson’s skill set will undoubtedly help the Mountaineers in their quest. A proven two-gun specialist, he paced the team in air rifle last season with a program-best average of 588.38. His combined score season average (1165.54) also ranked second on the team. Multiple awards back Lamson’s numbers. In addition to his two first-team honors, Lamson owns three more NRA All-America accolades and also has been named an all-GARC shooter six times over the last two seasons.
Yet, even Lamson, a business and economics major and a two-time ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American, sometimes doubts his own ability. In an effort to keep himself focused, and to boost his morale during tough in-match moments, he has put together a card of mantras and goals that he keeps next to his side at the range.
“When I’m shooting well, I’m in a rhythm and I’m focused,” he explained. “I know I just have to be in a rhythm. If I shoot a couple of 9s in a row, I have to stop, relax, shoot some dry fires and then get back in there.”
Lamson credits his former teammate, All-American Bryant Wallizer, for his current focus phrase.
“Last year, Bryant would say ‘10 center’ when he shot,” Lamson said. “I expanded on it and now say ‘Be aggressive! 10 center.’ I feel like if I’m not aggressive when I shoot, I shoot more 9s.”
How does a shooter stay aggressive?
“As soon as you see a 10, take it,” he said. “Don’t over think the shot. Just take it. It works a lot better.”
Lamson will have to be ultra aggressive when TCU visits Morgantown this weekend. In what is shaping up to be one of the premier matches of the 2010-11 rifle season, the No. 1-ranked Mountaineers will play host to the No. 2-ranked and reigning NCAA champion Horned Frogs on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 8 a.m., at the WVU Rifle Range.
TCU will be riding a wave of confidence when they take to the line. Coming off the program’s first national title, the Horned Frogs shot a winning score of 4687 last weekend against UTEP, a program-best mark.
“They are going to have a lot of confidence this weekend,” Lamson said. “I doubt they’ll shoot another 4687, but they’re capable. They’re really good.”
In keeping with his new philosophy, Lamson is not concentrating on defeating the Horned Frogs this weekend. While he would like to advance the Mountaineers’ 18-match regular season win streak, he stresses that development and weekly progression are the keys to WVU winning its 15th national title come March.
“I think after winning all of the (regular season) matches last season, we just expected to win the championship again,” he said. “Then, when we didn’t, it was a big shock. We had to recover from that. I don’t want to say we’re more focused now, but we know we can lose the championship. We have to win that title.”
With such evident conviction and desire, one can not help but believe that the Mountaineers will see this mission through to the end this season.
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