Inhale, two, three – a heartbeat. Hold, two, three – a heartbeat. Finger around the trigger – a heartbeat. A gentle squeeze – pop! Exhale. This meticulous routine runs through air rifle master and Liberty sophomore Evelyn Jackson’s mind 60 times every competition, wherein she is one of the best.
“I got into shooting air rifles through the NJROTC program, and I started doing it because my uncle did it when he was in high school,” Jackson said.
Air rifle is a precision sport contested in several different ways, including clubs, JROTC programs, even the Junior Olympics! In these contests, shooters stand 10 meters from their targets, shooting 60 shots each competition without special equipment.
“At each competition, everyone shoots from three positions: prone, kneeling, and standing. The reason why I’m so successful is because I spend a lot of time practicing shooting while standing,” Jackson said.
Prone shooters lie on the floor, kneeling shooters rest on a single knee, and standing shooters have to support their own weight. Standing tends to be the hardest because it is so involved – the shooter has to slow their breathing, maintain perfect balance, and remain completely focused whilst under immense pressure. For some, these skills are learned; for others, they’re natural.
“It was pretty obvious Evelyn had some natural talent right off the bat, but she also takes the coaching very well. She listens to what you’re saying, she pays attention, and she does what you tell her to do,” NJROTC captain John Deehr said.
While natural talent, something Jackson’s coaches frequently emphasize, can get someone pretty far, it takes a disciplined and open mind to be willing to accept the constructive criticism needed to excel in air rifle – and she does excel.
“When standing, just getting into the 90s stage is hard, but Evelyn’s consistently scoring 95 or above,” Deehr said. “She’s the best shooter we’ve ever had.”
In air rifle, each competition involves shooting six paper targets, using every position twice. Each paper target contains ten bullseyes, and the closer each shot is to the center, the more points are scored, with a perfect bullseye earning ten points.
Jackson consistently scores near the maximum of 600 points – 60 bullseyes – earning her high placements in school competitions.
“I intend to go to nationals a few weeks from now. I also hope to go to service championships,” Jackson said.
Service championships are located in Sandusky, Ohio. They are an annual competition where the best JROTC air rifle shooters compete in a 60-shot contest. Only 32 individuals from across the nation are selected, so competing will be a huge honor for Jackson. But how does she handle all this pressure?
“You have to be disciplined in your physical fitness, and you have to be disciplined in your eating habits because your eating can affect your shooting,” Deehr said. “One thing Evelyn was disciplined in from the start was not letting a mistake impact what she had to do next.”
Shooting 60 targets in rapid succession is like taking a test and immediately knowing how you did on each question; it can be either heartening or demoralizing. If she misses a shot, Jackson has the mental fortitude not to let it weigh her down. That ability to move past mistakes is monumental in both her shooting and her daily life, making her both a better shooter and a better person.
“I would say a lot of credit for my work goes to my Chief, Captain, rifle coaches, grandfather, and mother.” Jackson said. .