The bumper stickers and T-shirts that say, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could," apply to Trinity University sophomore Diana Riddle, the reigning National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA) champion.
Riddle grew up in southern California – where shooting clay targets isn't nearly as popular as it is in Texas – watching her dad and brother go to the range every weekend. She longed to join them.
"When I turned 10, my dad decided I was old enough to hold a gun properly, and I haven't looked back since," Riddle says.
Now majoring in mathematical finance and theoretical economics, Riddle is a regular participant in Trinity's club sport of trap and skeet. She is grateful to the San Antonio Gun Club for supporting the team, as well as the help of the Midway USA Foundation in getting team members to tournaments throughout the academic year. She also acknowledges the backing of Kolar Arms, a manufacturer of competitive guns, for making her "feel like family."
She says the Trinity team is preparing for a clay targets tournament sponsored by the Association of College Unions International (ACUI). "We start a training regimen to help us stay focused, but the best part about it is getting to learn and improve at all the different disciplines," she says.
When she won the 2015 NSSA title, she competed against 40 women shooters from across the globe, shooting a score of 445 out of 450.
Important attributes for being good at her sport are passion and patience, Riddle says, adding, "You need to love what you're doing, but shooting comes with its fair share of mental roadblocks, so you have to have the patience to set down your gun and figure things out when you're frustrated."
Riddle says skeet is her favorite shotgun sports event since it is what she grew up with, but she expresses a growing love for sporting clays because it is different and challenging.
Her brother Richard – who helped introduce Riddle to her sport – is still her role model because of his motivation. "He is so honest, generous, and kind, and he inspires me every day."
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