The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/743343
NOVEMBER 2016 ■ 117 BY TIM PEELER N C State's rifle program is hot‑ ter than a spent casing going into the 2016‑17 season. Veteran head coach Keith Miller, entering his 28th season at his alma mater, has had more attention for his sometimes over‑ looked program over the last year than at any time since rifle became a varsity sport in 1959. With that come expectations for a strong season, preseason national rankings and an unstated pressure in a sport where competi‑ tors need such steady, unwavering hands they time their precision shots between heartbeats so as not to affect the projectile's trajectory. And that heightened awareness and an‑ ticipation is something the coach enjoys. "Damn right I do," Miller said. With senior All‑American Lucas Koze‑ niesky, the first Wolfpack shooter to ever qualify for the Olympics and its first USA Shooting national champion, Miller has de‑ veloped a star for his program. Kozeniesky remembers when he was the worst shooter on his high school team. He's now one of the best college shooters in the world. Kozeniesky, who finished fifth in the air rifle event in his first NCAA Champion‑ ships appearance last spring, has brought much favorable attention to the program with his many accomplishments. He fin‑ ished 21st and had the top American score at the Rio Olympics this summer in the 10‑meter air rifle event. Now, he's ready to finish his career with a … ahem … bang. Or at least an exagger‑ ated "Pffft" of the trusty air rifle he used at the Olympics. "I'm pretty excited for this year, being my last season," the Fairfax Station, Va., native said. "I'm looking forward to an ef‑ ficient early season schedule to help build towards the spring." Miller is quick to point out, however, that this year's Wolfpack is hardly a one‑ person shooting show, which will help the team in its quest to qualify for its first NCAA Championships appearance since 1982 when Miller was one of the top shoot‑ ers in the program. Junior Caitlyn Ford, who qualified for ■ PREVIEW RIFLE HIGH PROFILE Rifle's Visibility Growing Amidst Recent Successes And Promising Expectations Senior Lucas Kozeniesky was the first Wolfpack shooter to ever qualify for the Olympics and had the top American score there in the 10-meter air rifle event at the Rio Games this past summer. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS