Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Lance Allison
Racer Rifle Spotlight - Kaitlin Cleven
5/31/2011 10:51:33 AM | Rifle
Looking back at the 2010-11 for Murray State Rifle, there is much to be proud of.
Probably the most impressive year was turned in by Kaitin Cleven, a sophomore from Greenleaf, Wisc.
She had a good freshman year where she worked hard and showed improvement.
“No one on the team worked harder than Katie,” MSU Head Coach Alan Lollar said. “When we started fall practice we knew someone needed to step up and contribute. Katie went beyond that, she performed well and was a leader.”
Cleven led the Racers with a match aggregate average of 1166.71. Her 576 smallbore average and 590 air rifle average were good enough for All-American honors in both guns, joining teammates Emily Quiner and Nehemiah Gillman.
Coach Lollar was not particularly surprised at Cleven's improvement.
“That Katie got better was not a surprise, because the level of consistency she maintained throughout the year was really impressive,” Lollar said. “And I'm not just talking about matches. Every day she came to the range to challenge her best. What everyone else saw on match day, I got to see every day at practice.”
Cleven's biggest match of the fall came when she defeated one of the best air rifle shooters in the world at West Virginia, with a score of 596.
“That day she learned that she could compete with anyone,” Lollar added.
It was a sort of a humorous thing on the team and not very funny at times, how Cleven came within a few points of getting 580 in smallbore. Cleven saved that for the biggest day of the year at the NCAA Championships.
“In the two weeks building up to the championships, Katie really pounded her weaknesses in training,” Lollar said. “She changed some things after the qualifier and I think that made the difference.”
Down the stretch, at the three biggest matches of the year, OVC Championships, NCAA Qualifier and the NCAA Championships, Cleven's aggregate score was 1170, 1169 and 1169.
When the season was over, Cleven finished her Junior Olympic career with a flourish, making the finals in both smallbore and air rifle and competed well with some of the best female shooters in the country.
She understands that the MSU Rifle program is a team effort.
“God blessed me with great coaches and great teammates and blessed us all with a great season,” Cleven said. “Without them, there is no way I would've had that kind of season. All of us improved a lot and were able to push each other as teammates to get better. That combined with the guidance of Coach Lollar, we had one of our most successful seasons so far. We all learned this year and hope to continue working hard to get better.”
And last but not least, at the spring athletic banquet, Cleven was voted Female Athlete of the Year, by Murray State's Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), marking back-to-back seasons that MSU Rifle has won the award. Emily Quiner was the winner in 2010.
“I think it is an honor to be recognized by your peers,” Lollar said. “Having two athletes in a row win the award is very nice. Our student-athletes understand the work and sacrifice needed.”
Probably the most impressive year was turned in by Kaitin Cleven, a sophomore from Greenleaf, Wisc.
She had a good freshman year where she worked hard and showed improvement.
“No one on the team worked harder than Katie,” MSU Head Coach Alan Lollar said. “When we started fall practice we knew someone needed to step up and contribute. Katie went beyond that, she performed well and was a leader.”
Cleven led the Racers with a match aggregate average of 1166.71. Her 576 smallbore average and 590 air rifle average were good enough for All-American honors in both guns, joining teammates Emily Quiner and Nehemiah Gillman.
Coach Lollar was not particularly surprised at Cleven's improvement.
“That Katie got better was not a surprise, because the level of consistency she maintained throughout the year was really impressive,” Lollar said. “And I'm not just talking about matches. Every day she came to the range to challenge her best. What everyone else saw on match day, I got to see every day at practice.”
Cleven's biggest match of the fall came when she defeated one of the best air rifle shooters in the world at West Virginia, with a score of 596.
“That day she learned that she could compete with anyone,” Lollar added.
It was a sort of a humorous thing on the team and not very funny at times, how Cleven came within a few points of getting 580 in smallbore. Cleven saved that for the biggest day of the year at the NCAA Championships.
“In the two weeks building up to the championships, Katie really pounded her weaknesses in training,” Lollar said. “She changed some things after the qualifier and I think that made the difference.”
Down the stretch, at the three biggest matches of the year, OVC Championships, NCAA Qualifier and the NCAA Championships, Cleven's aggregate score was 1170, 1169 and 1169.
When the season was over, Cleven finished her Junior Olympic career with a flourish, making the finals in both smallbore and air rifle and competed well with some of the best female shooters in the country.
She understands that the MSU Rifle program is a team effort.
“God blessed me with great coaches and great teammates and blessed us all with a great season,” Cleven said. “Without them, there is no way I would've had that kind of season. All of us improved a lot and were able to push each other as teammates to get better. That combined with the guidance of Coach Lollar, we had one of our most successful seasons so far. We all learned this year and hope to continue working hard to get better.”
And last but not least, at the spring athletic banquet, Cleven was voted Female Athlete of the Year, by Murray State's Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), marking back-to-back seasons that MSU Rifle has won the award. Emily Quiner was the winner in 2010.
“I think it is an honor to be recognized by your peers,” Lollar said. “Having two athletes in a row win the award is very nice. Our student-athletes understand the work and sacrifice needed.”
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