Oct. 16, 2002

A year ago, the Duquesne University rifle team produced an 8-3 record in shoulder-to-shoulder competition along with a 20-4 smallbore rifle record and 14-4 air rifle record in the Middle Atlantic Rifle Conference (MAC). This success qualified the Dukes for the MAC Championships at VMI in which Duquesne claimed a share of the conference title.

Although successful, the team's on-going goal of NCAA qualification and NRA Intercollegiate All-American recognition has eluded the team. However, this year, 29th-year head coach Dave Cramer's squad could be in position to reach those levels as an NCAA appearance and multiple All-Americans are not out of the question for this year's team.

For the second straight season, Cramer returns his entire roster in addition to a redshirt senior and two freshmen to give the Dukes its largest roster in the program's history with 11 competitors. Senior Jennifer Ma returns to complete her collegiate career after a redshirt last year. Ma was the team's top air rifle shooter two years ago and will make an already strong air team even stronger. Robert Doverspike, the team's only other senior, is aiming to finish his college career on a high-note. After an off year last year, his experience and dedication should bring him back to the level of success he attained as a freshman and sophomore.

The strength of the team lies with its junior class. Sara Barker, coming off her best smallbore season and school record-breaking air rifle performances, will again be a strong shooter for the Dukes. Adam Bester, who has been shooting team-best standing scores, has improved his kneeling and prone positions and is looking for a breakout year. Daniel Rossiter has shown progress in the smallbore event and could be the team's top air rifle scorer after a summer of training.

Sophomore shooters David Petrun, Keith Leopardi, David Chilson and Stephen Shanahan will push the upperclassmen for team positions. Petrun was used as the number four smallbore team member last year and is showing even more progress while Leopardi is strongest in air rifle, but is working hard to make his smallbore more competitive. Chilson may be the surprise of the group particularly with the improved smallbore shooting he has demonstrated and Shanahan will be a strong contender for smallbore team consideration.

New to the team this year are freshmen Kara Strawn and Justin Vail who will add depth and be future contributors after a year of experience. While having depth creates a dilemma in picking four-person teams to compete each week, it is a luxury and challenge Coach Cramer doesn't mind.

Duquesne will compete in three intercollegiate tournaments in addition to the regular conference matces. The Dukes will travel to Ohio State for the Buckeye Invitational, to Xavier for the Walsh Invitational and to Hershey, PA for the Palmyra Invitational. These tournaments attract top collegiate competition and will measure Duquesne's standing among the nations best teams. The season finale is the NCAAA Qualifier and NRA Intercollegiate Rifle Championship that the Dukes will fire at West Virginia University in early February.