MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The top-ranked West Virginia University rifle team opens its 2019-20 season this week against Nebraska on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 8 a.m., in Lincoln, Nebraska.
 
Entering his 14th season with the Mountaineers, coach Jon Hammond shared his thoughts on the 2019-20 team, which features a pair of individual NCAA national champions. WVU has won six NCAA titles under Hammond, including five straight from 2013-17.
 
Seven student-athletes return to the team this season – what did they learn last year, and how will the way the season ended impact their outlook in 2019-20?
 
We learned a lot last year. I thought we did a lot of preparation for the NCAA Championships. We knew the challenges of hosting and dealing with the extra distractions and expectations. All that work was beneficial though, and I believe that our mental strength really improved because of it. Naturally, we were disappointed not to win a championship at home in front of our fans, but that just gave us more determination.
 
They learned a lot from the experience. We did everything that we could have done, and to some degree, nothing was going to prepare them for something that none of them have experienced before. There are not going to be many rifle matches with that many people cheering them on in that capacity in the future, so they have pretty much seen it all in terms of that respect. We are ready to reset. It's a fresh start every season, and hopefully, we will see even more determination from the team this year.
 
As a team, you lost great leaders in Ginny Thrasher and Will Anti. How do you fill those roles?
 
Ginny (Thrasher) and Will (Anti) were very influential figures for us. Will was our team captain, and obviously, Ginny had many accomplishments. They were very dynamic people, and they gave us really strong leadership qualities. The team is a little bit quieter without those two, but I think that's the case every year. Other people have to step up. The atmosphere of the team may be a little bit different, but my philosophy is always about looking into the future and moving forward. That's never in disrespect to those that leave, but we have to be in the present and look at how we can improve with this group. Those guys gave us a lot of good stuff, but I think it's up to the next group and the upperclassmen that we have to create their own leadership style and guide the group in the direction that they want. Like always, it's a fresh start and a new beginning.
 
What type of leadership qualities will the upperclassmen bring to the team this year, and what are your expectations for them?
 
Regardless of who is an upperclassman or team captain, you want your leaders to set a great example. You want them to work hard, and I think more than anything, you want to make sure that the newcomers know what it means to be on the WVU rifle team. I think we are going to have some really good leaders this year. (Senior) Morgan (Phillips) and (junior) David (Koenders) are our team captains, and they have already been working hard on building the culture that we want to have. We also see (senior) Milica (Babic) and (junior) Noah (Barker) as our other seniors. They both have a lot of experience with their years here on the team. Between the four of them, we have a strong leadership group, and I'll look to them to set the example and build the team culture. The culture and value of WVU rifle is not going to change from year-to-year, but it's always a different group and certain things may take a different emphasis. It'll be a chance for our two team captains to set their mark and guide the team in the direction that they want for this year.
 
Three talented newcomers join the team this season in freshmen Malori Brown, Akihito Shimizu and Calista Smoyer. What role do you see this trio taking with the team this year?
 
We're excited about the newcomers. They have a big role, but most of it is to come in, work hard and do their best. We try not to have expectations for the new shooters coming in. It takes time to adjust, and they are just getting used to being in college. Our expectations for them are to understand the culture and the values of the team, which include giving your best every day, working hard and striving to be the best you can be. We also want them to be a great team member, and we want them to support their teammates.
 
We are excited about all three of them. (Freshman) Akihito (Shimizu) obviously has some really good international experience. He is an excellent air rifle shooter, but I think he has a huge amount of potential in smallbore, as well. He just hasn't had the training time for that yet. I think being able to shoot smallbore on a regular basis is really going to pay dividends for him. We are excited about (freshmen) Malori (Brown) and Calista (Smoyer) as well. Both of them come in with a good bit of experience. I hate to lump them together, but they are similar. They are hard-working, smart girls. They are doing great so far, working hard each day and learning their sport. Our expectations for them are to learn more about their sport, work hard every day and slowly integrate into the team.
 
We're back to having a bit more depth on our team that we haven't had the last couple years, and that's going to create extra competition within the team. I think all three coming in are going to be a part of that. They are really going to add to our depth this year and add to the competition. That's going to pay dividends throughout the year and toward the end as well.
 
The 2019-20 schedule features four of seven opponents from the 2019 NCAA National Championships, including a match at home against TCU, the 2019 National Champion. How will this schedule challenge and prepare the Mountaineers for the postseason?
 
We want to shoot against the best teams every year. I think we are shooting against most of the top teams out there. A lot of the teams we compete against we'll see at the NCAA Championships, so that prepares us well. Our conference is strong. I think we had four teams out of the eight at NCAA's last year, and hopefully, it'll be similar this year. Naturally, if you are competing against the best teams, it's going to prepare you well for the postseason.
 
With that being said, we really want to focus on ourselves this year. We want to treat each match like we are competing against ourselves. It's different from a lot of sports. It's a different philosophy. When we get up on the line and compete, we have no control on the opposition. They have no control over us, so we really want to treat every match as an opportunity to make us better and prepare us for the end of the year.
 
The team will shoot a match at Memphis in early November, which is the host site for the 2020 Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Championships. How will that match help the team become familiar with the environment prior to the conference championships?
 
There are elements that help. We won't be competing in the same facility, so it's not the same as getting to compete on the venue. They are going to set up a temporary range in one of their basketball arenas. Nonetheless, it is nice to go to the town and stay in a similar hotel to get your bearings a little bit. Ultimately, I don't think it'll make much difference in terms of performance. When we go back, we could be in a different hotel, and we are certainly shooting in a different arena. Other than just a bit of familiarity, it won't make much of a difference for us.
 
The Mountaineers will start their spring slate in Tokyo, Japan, going head-to-head with the All-Japan University Team. How important is it for the team to receive these international experiences?
 
Going to Japan should be an amazing experience. When we went to South Africa last year, it was the first time since I was associated with WVU rifle that we went on an international trip. For many of the team members, it was the highlight of the year. Hopefully, it'll be a highlight of a lifetime and something they can always look back on. I think it really allowed the team to bond. The memories that they had together and those experiences that they had are great for building a team atmosphere. I'm sure Japan will have a similar impact.
 
Obviously, it is a great tie with having (freshman) Akihito (Shimizu) on the team. It will be a great experience for him, and we're excited for him to share his culture with the team. It also will be a great training opportunity. We are going to get a chance to compete, shoot and train in a different country. I know South Africa was great for setting us up in the spring last year, and I'm sure this trip will do the same.
 
It is an Olympic year, and many of the Mountaineers competed on the national and international scene over the summer. How will your student-athletes use this season to grow, and hopefully, compete for a chance to shoot at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games?
 
Any time you get a chance to compete internationally, it is a great experience. You are traveling to a different country, you are experiencing a different culture and you are seeing the best shooters in your age group. I know team members who have competed this year, especially (sophomore) Jared (Eddy) and (junior) Sarah (Osborn), gained a lot of experience. They were able to grow as people, but really grow as athletes. They learned things from watching the best shooters in the world. Obviously, we have four international team members that were able to compete, but being here is a part of their international experience and growth as a person. It is cool having that mixture and those dynamics in there. I think it really gives them great experience and helps them all around. Hopefully, they will continue to get those opportunities.
 
A big pillar for this program is academic success. How do your student-athletes succeed on the range and in the classroom?
 
Last year was probably one of our best academic years. I think we had one of the highest GPA's that we ever had in the spring semester and probably for both semesters combined. It was one of our highest GPA's for the year in a long, long time. I think that Will (Anti) and Ginny's (Thrasher) leadership was a big part of that. They really pushed the team and set a great example in the classroom. They put forth the work required to get good grades. I think we will continue to build off that. We won't be able to have a high GPA every semester, but we will continue to push and grow that.
 
I know the new teammates are getting used to that culture and what is expected. Part of being a student-athlete is learning the balance of having the time to get their studies done. We really want to set the tone that being a part of WVU rifle also means that you are striving for excellence. You are striving to do the best that you possibly can in all areas of life, whether its on the rifle range as an athlete or in the classroom as a student. It also includes being a good person, being a good friend and helping others. We want them to be the overall best that they can be. We will continue to push them in the classroom, and they will continue to get good grades and move forward.
 
Ginny Thrasher is a finalist for this year's NCAA Woman of the Year award. What legacy did she leave this program and how can current student-athletes look up to her as a role model for success, both academically and athletically?
 
Ginny (Thrasher) left an amazing legacy. She was very charismatic, and she was an amazing team member to have. Reading her accomplishments on paper is pretty spectacular. She was an NCAA champion, an Olympic Gold medalist and her accolades continue with her being a finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year. I think we got to see the real Ginny and that person day-to-day. We saw the hours that she put in and how committed she was to her sport and her studies. She was a lot of fun to coach. She always wanted to be better. She always wanted to learn more. She left a huge imprint on the team. We will miss her, but I think the team members that were on the team with her certainly learned things and will set an example to others as they go through the team. I'm sure she's going to continue to shoot great and have a good career, and we'll be able to take a step back and enjoy watching the rest of it.
 
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