North Carolina State University Athletics
Kozeniesky to Compete in ISSF Junior World Championships
9/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Rifle
When sophomore Lucas Kozeniesky of the NC State rifle team began the process of qualifying for the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Championships, he had no idea he would be in the position that he currently finds himself.
The Fairfax, Va., native is representing the U.S. National Junior Rifle Team in Granada, Spain, training for the 50m three position junior rifle event set to begin on Friday, Sept. 19 at 3 a.m. (EST). The finals of the competition are slated to get underway later that day at 7 a.m. (EST).
“This whole process began in April at the Junior Olympics, but I didn’t think I would make the team because I didn’t shoot as well as I would have liked,” said Kozeniesky. “I was disappointed because I was only a few points away from second place and getting a jacket for placing in the event.”
Fortunately for Lucas, he received an email from Dave Johnson, the director of USA Shooting, a few weeks after he returned from the Junior Olympics asking what he planned to do during the summer. Kozeniesky informed him that he planned on taking summer classes to get ahead in his major.
Johnson asked Kozeniesky if he had any interest in shooting the May selection match for the World Cup Team. The sophomore shot the match and was later nominated for the Junior Development Team, becoming the first nomination for the team in the past three years.
So for a month, he drove back-and-forth from Raleigh to his home in Southern Pines, N.C., which is about an hour and a half to practice every day at the rifle range. USA shooting then flew him down to Fort Benning, Ga., for a three-day camp of instruction.
“When I got there, they gave me new ammo and I also had World Class coaches give me instruction for eight hours a day and that was a different experience,” Kozeniesky added. “They showed me the best way to clean my gun to ensure that I was shooting as straight as possible and didn’t have any debris affecting my shot.”
At the USA National Shooting Championships, he collected third-place honors in the junior three-position smallbore rifle event, earning him a spot on the U.S. National Junior Rifle Team.
“I felt relieved to have achieved my goal and earned a spot on the U.S. National Junior Rifle Team,” Kozeniesky said. “At the time, I didn’t realize what making the team meant, but now that I’ve had time to soak it all in that I will get to represent my country and my school in Spain.
“I was proud of the statement that I made for NC State that our team is getting bigger and better. I’m going to do my best while I’m there and represent my country and NC State as best as possible.”
Kozeniesky departed for Spain last Thursday and will return to the U.S. this weekend after his competition on Friday. He says that all of his college professors have been really understanding and cooperative with him missing significant class time. Before leaving, he took a few tests and also turned in assignments.
Throughout the strenuous selection process, Lucas said that his parents have been his biggest supporters. His father is a Colonel in the Marine Corps stationed at Fort Bragg, He recalls the tough times he had when he first started the sport, but his parents helped him get through the difficult time.
“In high school, we practiced at 6 a.m. on Saturdays and that was tough,” Kozeniesky said. “The practices after school weren’t bad, but the Saturday morning sessions were a challenge.”
Kozeniesky first came in contact with the NC State coaching staff at the 2012 Junior Olympics following his junior year. All the pieces of the puzzle fell into place for him and he said he had a good feeling that this is where he wanted to be and has loved every minute of it.
Last season, he led NC State in air rifle and smallbore average. He fired the Wolfpack’s highest score in smallbore during the 2013-14 season with a 583. Kozeniesky also garnered All-South Eastern Air Rifle Conference (SEARC) honors after an impressive showing at the championships.
After returning from the World Championships, Kozeniesky is poised to lead the 2014-15 rifle squad which will look to win its fourth consecutive SEARC championship.
