Johnson City’s Sralla helps Texas Hill Country win another natty
CAPTION: Briley Sralla checks her equipment as she prepares to compete at the Civilian Marksmanship Program Three-Position Air Rifle Championships. Courtesy photo
Briley Sralla and the Texas Hill Country shooting team captured the 2024 national title from the Civilian Marksmanship Program Three-Position Air Rifle Championships July 8-10.
The three positions that are part of the competition are prone, standing and kneeling.
It’s the eighth time Sralla has been on the Texas Hill Country team that won a national championship, the club’s 10th overall.
“It’s definitely really good,” she said. “All the attention is on you in a way. Our coach (Ron Haffner) picked those who are on the team. We are pretty good compared to most people in the country.”
Sralla, who will start her junior year at Johnson City High School, finished second overall in the 17-and-under division.
The size of what shooters are aiming for is the size of a period in 12-point font. Sralla hit that 54 of 60 attempts.
The competition drew 350 athletes.
What is the secret to her success?
“A lot of practice and trusting in your training,” she said. “You have to trust the process and practice a lot. It’s definitely multiple times a week for multiple hours.”
She believes that out-training, outpracticing and more hard work “can kind of overrule somebody else.”
She was especially thrilled to be apart of another national championship, pointing out the sport is more about being a family.
“it’s a very family-oriented sport,” she said. “My teammates are like siblings to me and honestly, just winning makes it more fun for national championships and records.”
It’s an important year for Sralla. More college rifle teams are expressing interest in her, which is one of her goals. Five of her teammates will be on college rifle teams as true freshmen in the fall.
“I’m still working on getting on the national team, so I can travel,” she said. “That’s my next goal. Everyone is always competing for those spots.”
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