SHELBYVILLE, Ky. — A Shelby County High School student athlete is aiming for gold this summer after qualifying to compete in air rifle at the National Junior Olympics in Michigan.

What You Need To Know

  • Shelby County High School junior qualified for the Junior Olympics

  • Emma Lawrence shot a high enough score at the Junior Olympics qualifying match at Murray State University in January to qualify for the prestigious tournament in Michigan

  • Lawrence scored 580 out of a possible 600 points, paving the way for her trip to the Great Lake State

  • The National Junior Olympic Air Rifle Championships will be held May 11 through May 15 in Hillsdale, Mich.

Competing at the national level is something many athletes aim for. For Emma Lawrence, she’s right on target for that goal.

Lawrence told Spectrum News 1, "It’s not only a physical sport, and it’s a lot of mental and trying to control your heart rate and your breathing and go through the same process every time so you know exactly what you’re doing each time."

The consistency of the sport and the work to improve scores are just some characteristics Lawrence says she enjoys the most.

“Whenever you get to a match, you tend to want to do everything you do in practice, so you go through the same motions with setting everything up. Go through the same motions with every shot,” Lawrence explained.

She says shooting comes somewhat naturally after focusing on her sport for the past seven years.

“I’ve played so many different sports since I was younger that whenever I picked up a rifle, I felt like it was a little bit different and it kind of excited me to be able to try something different that nobody else was doing,” Lawrence said.

The Marine Corps JROTC athlete shot a high enough score at the Junior Olympics qualifying match at Murray State University in January to qualify for the prestigious tournament in Michigan.

The recently named Kentucky Women’s Air Rifle Junior Olympics state champion scored 580 out of a possible 600 points, paving the way for her trip to the Great Lake State.

“I tried to qualify last year and came up short and wasn’t able to qualify. So, being able to this year and get the state champion for Kentucky is very exciting,” Lawrence said.

The Junior Olympics air rifle event involves the competitor taking 60 shots within 75 minutes, all from the standing position.

Make no mistake, it’s not as simple as all of that.

“Controlling your breathing, controlling your heart rate, how fast you pull the trigger goes into a lot of it. The way you pull the trigger with your finger, the follow through,” Lawrence said.

First Sergeant Willie Brown is the MCJROTC Instructor at Shelby County High School and thinks Lawrence has Olympic potential.

“Her self discipline, her inner drive, her commitment, and her focus, that’s Emma Lawrence, Cadet Lawrence,” Brown said.

Her advice to young shooters who may wish to enter competitions is simple: “If you love the sport, put in the time to work for it,” Lawrence said.

As Lawrence finishes up her junior year of high schools, she cautiously eyes Olympic dreams.

The National Junior Olympics Air Rifle Championships take place May 11 through May 15 in Hillsdale, Mich.

Related Stories