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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Q&A With Head Coach Valerie Boothe
8/17/2004 | Rifle
Aug. 17, 2004
Q: When looking back at the 2003-04 season, what are some of the areas that you were pleased with?
A: I thought we had a lot of good leadership. Our team captain, Megan Sandage, did a fantastic job and I'm glad she's coming back. Our newcomers really showed their strength at various points throughout the season. Jennifer Lorenzen came in and performed like a senior. The entire group of freshmen really had a chance to contribute and I think they all did. I was happy with the effort (at workouts/practices) and I think that led to our improvement towards the end of the season.
Q: What are some of the areas that you hope to improve in 2004-05?
A: We had a lot of solid individual performances last year, but had trouble putting everything together as a team. We had a good core group, but we weren't as solidified as we needed to be. Our scores were rather inconsistent at times. The shooters worked hard and competed, but we just didn't have that final piece to tie it all together. I think that will change this year. We have a strong returning nucleus and some incoming freshmen who are ready to contribute right away.
Q: What kinds of activities were the shooters involved in over the summer?
A: We had two (shooters) who competed. Jennifer Lorenzen competed at the USA Shooting national competition and ended up making the development team, which was one of her goals. I also saw Shannon Wilson at the NRA Nationals and she was very competitive in her class.
Q: Jennifer Lorenzen led last year's team as a freshman. Just how good can she be?
A: The sky is the limit for Jennifer because she has so much potential and she's so dedicated. One of her main goals is to make the US Olympic Team and she's that much closer by making the development team. She really competed like a seasoned veteran last year. When it's all said and done, Jennifer could very well be our first All-American at Ole Miss. We've had some gifted shooters who have come close in the past, but no one has been able to receive that highest individual honor.
Q: What kinds of expectations do you have for the other returnees?
A: We will be expecting a lot more out of Megan Sandage this year. She had some equipment problems last year which put her in a bit of a slump, but I think she will bounce back and do a great job for us in 2004-05. Laura Gavin was our most-improved shooter last year. She has so much potential and, once she learns how to be smart about her shooting, she will be very competitive. Samantha Leach is returning and I'm excited about that. She should be one of our top air rifle shooters and could have a big impact for us this year.
Q: What can we expect from the two newcomers?
A: I look for Shannon Wilson and Casey Phillips to both contribute right away. We recruited Shannon because she is a very good smallbore shooter. She can also shoot air, but smallbore is her strong suit. Shannon fared well in that event at nationals this past year. Casey, on the other hand, is a very good air rifle shooter. She's never shot smallbore, but, hopefully, she can get some experience in that area as well.
Q: Can you take a minute to highlight the 2004-05 schedule?
A: It's always exciting to compete at home and we have more home matches this year, so that's definitely a plus. It will also be exciting to show off our new facility. We are looking forward to opening the season with the Ole Miss Invitational, which starts the weekend of Sept. 24 and continues the following weekend. We also have several road trips -- to UT-Martin, Xavier, West Virginia, etc. -- which will test us right away. We are looking forward to the competition and know that our program will only improve by shooting against some of the nation's very best.
Q: You host the Great America Rifle Conference Championships in February. I know you are excited about that ...
A: Yes, we are very excited about that opportunity. We have hosted a lot of quality events in the past, but this will be at the very top of that list. We are still relatively new to the GARC (joined in 2001-02) and have been fighting to finish in the upper half of the league. If we can get some momentum rolling and hit our potential at the right time, I think we will have a legitimate chance to reach that goal. It goes without saying that you feel much more comfortable when you compete at home. I think this team thrives in situations like that.
Q: Surely, the new facility will have a big impact on the program ...
A: We are very excited about moving over to the Patricia C. Lamar National Guard Readiness Center. I have been told that the final walk through should take place the last week of August. We expect the building to be officially released about a week after that.
The range should be ready for our first invitational in late September. The facility is, first and foremost, a National Guard Armory. We will then be the second priority. It will not be a public range. Members of the general public who want to use it will have to go through the facility management or us.
The new facility will be a tremendous help from a recruiting standpoint. It should help us get to the elite level of collegiate rifle and that's where we hope to be in the near future.