Rifle: One Track Mind
January 14, 2011 03:15 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. - West Virginia senior Brandi Eskew is focused on one goal for the last semester of her college rifle career – to not cloud her mind with meaningless thoughts.
That’s not to say the Petersburg, W.Va., native is not consumed by the drive for a second NCAA title, but seeing as she holds a class schedule that does not require her to step foot in a classroom for 18 weeks, one would have to forgive her if she appears eager and grateful for a relatively stress-free spring semester.
“It’s odd,” the newest intern at Pro Performance, a Morgantown-based recreational gym, said. “My teammates talk about classes, and I have to remind myself what they are!”
Needing nine hours to graduate with a degree in exercise physiology this spring, Eskew will intern for approximately 300 hours at the gym. Though she isn’t yet sure what her exact job responsibilities will be, she is looking forward to the extra downtime and the competitive edge she hopes to gain.
“I don’t have to worry about rushing anymore,” she explained. “I can just go to practice, take my time and do whatever I want. I don’t have to worry about watching the clock and rushing to my next class or appointment. It’s more relaxed and a lot nicer."
Though she says she doesn’t preoccupy herself with numbers, Eskew hopes her new schedule will boost her already high scores.
A gifted athlete, she entered WVU prior to the 2007-08 season as a member of the national team and a Junior Olympic champion. A part of fifth-year coach Jon Hammond’s first recruiting class, she had an immediate impact on the Mountaineers’ rebuilding efforts as a freshman, not only setting school records, but also leading WVU back to the NCAA Championships, the team’s first appearance since 2002.
After finishing eighth in smallbore at the 2008 Great American Rifle Conference Championship, and shooting at the national championships, Eskew, along with current graduate assistant Lafe Kunkel, earned National Rifle Association (NRA) smallbore first team All-America honors, the first such honors for any Mountaineer since 2004.
Eskew continued to excel, and also has earned NRA smallbore first team All-America honors in each of the last two seasons. She is one of 23 three-time first team All-Americans in the program’s history, and the first Mountaineer to earn at least three straight honors since Cory Willis did so in 2000.
She says the honors, which are based on season averages, have exceeded her expectations.
“I have won three All-America awards, which I never expected,” she said. “I really didn’t expect the first one. It all is just more than I thought possible.”
Eskew has the chance this season to blow her expectations out of the water. If she earns her fourth straight first team All-America honor, she will become only the second female athlete in the program’s history to accomplish the feat, joining the ranks of Ann-Marie Pfiffner (Johnson), a 2010 WVU Hall of Fame inductee.
In keeping with her stress-free attitude, Eskew says she hasn’t given the possibility much thought.
“It’s kind of cool, but I never really try to think too much about it,” she said. “If I worry too much too early, I’ll find myself thinking about (the numbers) in matches. I’ll put pressure on myself and tell myself not to mess up my average.
“I couldn’t even tell you what my scores were from our last match. I just try to shoot and then move on.”
Though Eskew may not worry about where she ranks in WVU history, or what next honor might come her way, Hammond does not mind reflecting on her time as a Mountaineer.
“She’s had a great career,” he said. “Her accomplishments have been great. She has those three first team All-America awards, and winning a fourth would put her in an elite group.
“It’s always nice to have an in-state student-athlete on the team. She’ll probably go down as one of the best female shooters in the program’s history, and that’s quite an achievement. Hopefully she can finish it off strong this semester.”
Eskew’s intentions echo her coach’s thoughts, for nothing would make her happier than to win her second national title – the school’s 15th championship.
“Who cares how I do individually,” she expanded. “I just want that second NCAA title.”
With that desire pulsating through her veins, and without any nagging thoughts weighing her down, Eskew appears on track to attain her last Mountaineer goal.
That’s not to say the Petersburg, W.Va., native is not consumed by the drive for a second NCAA title, but seeing as she holds a class schedule that does not require her to step foot in a classroom for 18 weeks, one would have to forgive her if she appears eager and grateful for a relatively stress-free spring semester.
“It’s odd,” the newest intern at Pro Performance, a Morgantown-based recreational gym, said. “My teammates talk about classes, and I have to remind myself what they are!”
Needing nine hours to graduate with a degree in exercise physiology this spring, Eskew will intern for approximately 300 hours at the gym. Though she isn’t yet sure what her exact job responsibilities will be, she is looking forward to the extra downtime and the competitive edge she hopes to gain.
“I don’t have to worry about rushing anymore,” she explained. “I can just go to practice, take my time and do whatever I want. I don’t have to worry about watching the clock and rushing to my next class or appointment. It’s more relaxed and a lot nicer."
Though she says she doesn’t preoccupy herself with numbers, Eskew hopes her new schedule will boost her already high scores.
A gifted athlete, she entered WVU prior to the 2007-08 season as a member of the national team and a Junior Olympic champion. A part of fifth-year coach Jon Hammond’s first recruiting class, she had an immediate impact on the Mountaineers’ rebuilding efforts as a freshman, not only setting school records, but also leading WVU back to the NCAA Championships, the team’s first appearance since 2002.
After finishing eighth in smallbore at the 2008 Great American Rifle Conference Championship, and shooting at the national championships, Eskew, along with current graduate assistant Lafe Kunkel, earned National Rifle Association (NRA) smallbore first team All-America honors, the first such honors for any Mountaineer since 2004.
Eskew continued to excel, and also has earned NRA smallbore first team All-America honors in each of the last two seasons. She is one of 23 three-time first team All-Americans in the program’s history, and the first Mountaineer to earn at least three straight honors since Cory Willis did so in 2000.
She says the honors, which are based on season averages, have exceeded her expectations.
“I have won three All-America awards, which I never expected,” she said. “I really didn’t expect the first one. It all is just more than I thought possible.”
Eskew has the chance this season to blow her expectations out of the water. If she earns her fourth straight first team All-America honor, she will become only the second female athlete in the program’s history to accomplish the feat, joining the ranks of Ann-Marie Pfiffner (Johnson), a 2010 WVU Hall of Fame inductee.
In keeping with her stress-free attitude, Eskew says she hasn’t given the possibility much thought.
“It’s kind of cool, but I never really try to think too much about it,” she said. “If I worry too much too early, I’ll find myself thinking about (the numbers) in matches. I’ll put pressure on myself and tell myself not to mess up my average.
“I couldn’t even tell you what my scores were from our last match. I just try to shoot and then move on.”
Though Eskew may not worry about where she ranks in WVU history, or what next honor might come her way, Hammond does not mind reflecting on her time as a Mountaineer.
“She’s had a great career,” he said. “Her accomplishments have been great. She has those three first team All-America awards, and winning a fourth would put her in an elite group.
“It’s always nice to have an in-state student-athlete on the team. She’ll probably go down as one of the best female shooters in the program’s history, and that’s quite an achievement. Hopefully she can finish it off strong this semester.”
Eskew’s intentions echo her coach’s thoughts, for nothing would make her happier than to win her second national title – the school’s 15th championship.
“Who cares how I do individually,” she expanded. “I just want that second NCAA title.”
With that desire pulsating through her veins, and without any nagging thoughts weighing her down, Eskew appears on track to attain her last Mountaineer goal.
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