04/24/14
Fresh off a national championship win this March, seven members of the Fort Hays State University Shooting Team have been invited to attend a training camp at the U.S. Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs, where athletes train for the Olympics.

The students invited are Damian Giles, Ogallala, Neb., graduate student, majoring in organizational leadership; Kilee Hutchison, Pratt senior, majoring in agricultural business; Austin Svoboda, Burwell, Neb., freshman, majoring in tech studies; Josh Crankshaw, North Platte, Neb., freshman, majoring in tech studies; Jeremy Denny, Fremont, Neb., junior, majoring in business; Robert Ring, Springfield, Colo., senior, majoring in accounting; and Ashley Nau, Gering, Neb., senior, majoring in biology.

All seven members who applied were accepted, according to shooting team coach Dr. Duane Shepherd, also an associate professor of health and human performance.

These students earned their opportunity to apply by shooting a qualifying score, 98 out of 100 for males and 95 out of 100 for females, in one of the following events: trap, skeet, wobble, International skeet or sporting clays.

"Shooting these qualifying scores only allowed them the opportunity to apply for the camp," said Shepherd. "Our athletes then had to build and submit a personal shooting resume over the past two years for them to be considered for an invitation."

Dr. Shepherd said that the camp is "designed to introduce, provide top-notch training and subsequently introduce more talent into their sport." Only 24 athletes nationwide are invited, with FHSU's shooting team members filling seven slots.

The training will run from May 29 through June 2. Shepherd was also invited to attend a coaching clinic with the Olympic shooting coaches.