No. 1 Target
January 21, 2011 04:58 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Kyle Smith’s Mountaineer journey began almost four years ago. One-fifth of a freshman class billed as the next “big things” for West Virginia rifle, Smith, a DuBois, Pa., native was ready to help the storied program return to the great heights it once frequented.
Yet, Smith was a bit taken aback by the effort, time, focus and motivation required of a collegiate student-athlete.
“College is tough,” he reflected after a pause. “The hardest part is the couple of matches where the competition level isn’t equal. Then, you are really only competing against yourself.
“I definitely think I am a big-match shooter. I just tend to shoot better against stronger competition.”
Smith, a two-time National Rifle Association smallbore All-American, has a chance to prove his strength this Saturday, as the No. 1-ranked Mountaineers play host to No. 2 Alaska-Fairbanks, at the WVU Rifle Range, at 8 a.m.
The meeting can be likened to a clash of the titans, as the two squads are the most-decorated programs in the nation. Combined, the schools own 24 national championships, including nine titles since 2000 – eight of which belong to the Nanooks.
WVU had a stranglehold on the national championship at one point, winning 13 titles in 16 seasons before UAF secured its second title in 1999 and quickly superseded the Mountaineers as the face of collegiate shooting, winning six straight titles of their own.
Following the Mountaineers’ resurgence over the last four seasons, and a victory at the 2009 National Championships, the annual regular-season battle between WVU and UAF has become an anticipated event.
“It’s always one of our top three competitions of the year,” Smith explained. “It’s always a big match and our team always steps up, which is good.
“There’s a lot of pride on the line. (UAF) matches up well against us, and you never want to lose to them. A win doesn’t really define our season, just as a loss hasn’t in years past, but obviously you just don’t want to lose to them.”
The Mountaineers have done well in their recent quest for victories, defeating the Nanooks at the WVU Rifle Range in 2009 and 2010. Last year’s meeting, a battle between No. 1 UAF and No. 2 WVU, generated social network buzz, as ESPN.com columnist Pat Forde caught wind of the match and the programs’ storied shared history, and dedicated several tweets to the Mountaineers’ victory.
“It’s nice to know that the rivalry is that big in the sporting community,” said Smith. “I know Alaska has a lot of support for its team, as do we. The NCAA Championships is always a big deal when it’s held in Fairbanks. There are usually at least a couple thousand spectators.”
Though the championships will not be held in Alaska this season – instead the two-day match will make its first-ever appearance in Columbus, Ga. – Smith is anxiously anticipating the event, not only because it will be the last of his career, but also because it offers him a chance for redemption.
Despite a strong rookie showing at the 2008 championships, Smith faltered in 2009, shooting 573 smallbore, six shots below his 579.01 season average. The Mountaineers persevered, overcoming their sixth-place smallbore team finish and claiming their first national title in 11 years.
Smith admits that his hangover from the championships lingered throughout the 2009-10 season.
“I shot really badly at the championships, and I think that was one of my major downfalls last season – I was struggling to get my confidence back,” he explained. “Last year was just a poor season. I’ve really tried to have a more positive attitude this year. Aside from maybe one bad match, things have gone fairly well.”
So well, in fact, that he ranks second on the team with a 580.875 smallbore season average. While maintaining his smallbore strength, he also has shown improvement in air rifle, as evidenced by shooting a 588 personal-best score against Nebraska on Nov. 21.
“I just found myself in a hole last season,” he justified. “I’m not shooting that much better now than I was a few years ago, but I’m shooting solid, consistent scores, which is good.”
Safely removed from his shooting slump, Smith believes that his confidence level, as well as his teammates’, is where it needs to be as they head into the toughest stretch of their schedule.
“(I’m) pretty confident,” he said. “I think most of our shooters have found their groove heading into this semester. I think, as a whole, we're fairly solid. Everyone is shooting about where he needs to be.”
Fully aware that only a handful of matches stand between today and the end of his collegiate shooting career, Smith welcomes the upcoming change. An economics major, he aspires to enroll in grad school and pursue a doctorate in economics. Yet, before he begins his next journey, his sight is focused on finishing his current voyage.
“The seniors know that this is our last season, and I think everyone wants to post good scores at this year’s championships,” he explained.
Whether that elusive 15th national title is won with Smith this season, or without him in years to come, one thing is certain – he did indeed help lead the Mountaineers back to great heights.
Yet, Smith was a bit taken aback by the effort, time, focus and motivation required of a collegiate student-athlete.
“College is tough,” he reflected after a pause. “The hardest part is the couple of matches where the competition level isn’t equal. Then, you are really only competing against yourself.
“I definitely think I am a big-match shooter. I just tend to shoot better against stronger competition.”
Smith, a two-time National Rifle Association smallbore All-American, has a chance to prove his strength this Saturday, as the No. 1-ranked Mountaineers play host to No. 2 Alaska-Fairbanks, at the WVU Rifle Range, at 8 a.m.
The meeting can be likened to a clash of the titans, as the two squads are the most-decorated programs in the nation. Combined, the schools own 24 national championships, including nine titles since 2000 – eight of which belong to the Nanooks.
WVU had a stranglehold on the national championship at one point, winning 13 titles in 16 seasons before UAF secured its second title in 1999 and quickly superseded the Mountaineers as the face of collegiate shooting, winning six straight titles of their own.
Following the Mountaineers’ resurgence over the last four seasons, and a victory at the 2009 National Championships, the annual regular-season battle between WVU and UAF has become an anticipated event.
“It’s always one of our top three competitions of the year,” Smith explained. “It’s always a big match and our team always steps up, which is good.
“There’s a lot of pride on the line. (UAF) matches up well against us, and you never want to lose to them. A win doesn’t really define our season, just as a loss hasn’t in years past, but obviously you just don’t want to lose to them.”
The Mountaineers have done well in their recent quest for victories, defeating the Nanooks at the WVU Rifle Range in 2009 and 2010. Last year’s meeting, a battle between No. 1 UAF and No. 2 WVU, generated social network buzz, as ESPN.com columnist Pat Forde caught wind of the match and the programs’ storied shared history, and dedicated several tweets to the Mountaineers’ victory.
“It’s nice to know that the rivalry is that big in the sporting community,” said Smith. “I know Alaska has a lot of support for its team, as do we. The NCAA Championships is always a big deal when it’s held in Fairbanks. There are usually at least a couple thousand spectators.”
Though the championships will not be held in Alaska this season – instead the two-day match will make its first-ever appearance in Columbus, Ga. – Smith is anxiously anticipating the event, not only because it will be the last of his career, but also because it offers him a chance for redemption.
Despite a strong rookie showing at the 2008 championships, Smith faltered in 2009, shooting 573 smallbore, six shots below his 579.01 season average. The Mountaineers persevered, overcoming their sixth-place smallbore team finish and claiming their first national title in 11 years.
Smith admits that his hangover from the championships lingered throughout the 2009-10 season.
“I shot really badly at the championships, and I think that was one of my major downfalls last season – I was struggling to get my confidence back,” he explained. “Last year was just a poor season. I’ve really tried to have a more positive attitude this year. Aside from maybe one bad match, things have gone fairly well.”
So well, in fact, that he ranks second on the team with a 580.875 smallbore season average. While maintaining his smallbore strength, he also has shown improvement in air rifle, as evidenced by shooting a 588 personal-best score against Nebraska on Nov. 21.
“I just found myself in a hole last season,” he justified. “I’m not shooting that much better now than I was a few years ago, but I’m shooting solid, consistent scores, which is good.”
Safely removed from his shooting slump, Smith believes that his confidence level, as well as his teammates’, is where it needs to be as they head into the toughest stretch of their schedule.
“(I’m) pretty confident,” he said. “I think most of our shooters have found their groove heading into this semester. I think, as a whole, we're fairly solid. Everyone is shooting about where he needs to be.”
Fully aware that only a handful of matches stand between today and the end of his collegiate shooting career, Smith welcomes the upcoming change. An economics major, he aspires to enroll in grad school and pursue a doctorate in economics. Yet, before he begins his next journey, his sight is focused on finishing his current voyage.
“The seniors know that this is our last season, and I think everyone wants to post good scores at this year’s championships,” he explained.
Whether that elusive 15th national title is won with Smith this season, or without him in years to come, one thing is certain – he did indeed help lead the Mountaineers back to great heights.
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