My Freshman Year with Ole Miss Rifle: Kristen Derting

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss Rifle freshman Kristen Derting was a major contributor in her first season as a Rebel. She concluded her rookie campaign sixth at the GARC Championships for smallbore – the highest placement by a Rebel at league competition in the event since 2012.

Additionally, the Salem, Oregon, product showed continual improvement throughout 2019-20. She counted in at least one discipline over the final 11 matches of the season. Derting also ended the campaign with top-five team averages in smallbore, air rifle and aggregate as well as being the top Rebel shooter against Nebraska (Feb. 14) and at the conference championship (Feb. 28-29). She reflects on her memorable rookie season in Oxford.

Kristen's Highlights
Highest Career Smallbore Score: 582, 2x, (Most Recent at GARC Championships: Feb. 28, 2020)
Highest Career Air Rifle Score: 593 vs. Nebraska (Feb. 14, 2020)
Highest Career Aggregate Score: 1172 vs. Nebraska (Feb. 14, 2020)

Favorite Moment
"That had to have been the moment I got off the line at the GARC Championships and assistant coach Jean-Pierre Lucas said, 'I'm impressed freshy.' I had just shot a personal best in sling and tied my personal best smallbore score this season. I worked hard that match and I was happy I could be proud of every shot I took. In the moment I didn't know it would be the score that would get me into my first collegiate finals, but just to have my hard work all year show at our conference championship was all I could ask for."

Transition to College
"The transition into college was hard for me just like it is for every incoming freshman, but my excitement for the season surpassed any nerves I had about college. I may not have known what I was doing a lot of the time, but what I did know was that I wanted to grow as a competitor and learn alongside my teammates. The first few weeks where the most difficult, trying to find classes, learn schedules and get used to my new home, but having my team looking after me and having my back every day gave me a newfound motivation for rifle because I'm no longer an individual competitor but now part of a team that supports me no matter what."

Best Coaching Advice
"The best coaching advice I think I've gotten is when coaches tell me to take the shot when I see it. I have a tendency to overthink everything in life and that transitions into my sport. Having the coaches remind me to just relax and take the shot when I see it makes my competition more enjoyable."

Funniest Moment
"When we were in Kentucky we noticed there was a huge pond in front of a restaurant with swans swimming in it. Naturally, about half the team ran up to the railing at the edge of the pond and took photos on Snapchat of the swans. While we were doing this, JP had used a quarter to buy some swan food from a little dispenser next to the railing and gave us all some of the food to feed the swans. While feeding the swans with my teammates, I tried to pet one but got pulled away at the last minute by a teammate. Even though I was disappointed I couldn't touch the swan I was happy to make fun memories with my team."

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Kristen Derting

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