Phillips wins gold in WPIAL rifle championship
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Selena Phillips entered last Thursday鈥檚 WPIAL Rifle Championship as the defending gold medalist, and exited Mt. Lebanon-Dormont 缅北禁地men鈥檚 Club as the two-time champion.
Phillips showed consistency in defense of her district title, scoring 106.4 in both relays for a winning total of 212.8.
Avella鈥檚 Alayna Walther was a close second with a two-round total of 212.5. Mt. Lebanon鈥檚 Jacob Delfosse placed third with 211.8 points.
West Greene鈥檚 Shey Watson earned a spot in the state final after finishing fifth with a score of 211.7.
The Raiders鈥� Hunter Wasson returned to the medal stand after missing last year by placing eighth with 211.4.
The top 15 shooters advanced to the state final.
Phillips was a bit apprehensive as she prepared for her last district championship.
鈥淲hen I woke up this morning, I didn鈥檛 think I was going to do as good as I did,鈥� the senior said.
The WPIAL final was scored a bit differently than section matches, but Phillips was on target in both relays.
鈥淪coring is based on how close you are to the center (of the target),鈥� explained Phillips. 鈥淚 was consistent.
鈥淢y first relay, I was nervous given it is my senior year. It鈥檚 my senior year. I want to go out with a bang.鈥�
Phillips described shooting the exact score in both relays as 鈥渙ne in a million.鈥�
Phillips shot early, so she had a lot of time for scoreboard watching.
鈥淚 knew I was first for a while,鈥� said Phillips. 鈥淚t was nerve-racking, knowing I was first and then not knowing I was first.
鈥淎fter every line finished, they would score the targets and update the sheet. Until the last sheet, they didn鈥檛 tell us.鈥�
Phillips knew she had reached her goal when the final five shooters took to the targets.
鈥淢y goal was to go to states. It wasn鈥檛 winning the WPIAL,鈥� said Phillips, who finished 12th in the state last year. 鈥淏ut, I did.鈥�
Wasson, too, realized this was his last opportunity to shoot in high school competition.
鈥淚t鈥檚 my last year, my going out year. It was emotional to place,鈥� said Wasson, who was ninth in the WPIAL and third in the state as a sophomore. 鈥淚 wanted to put up the best score I can, not much more I can do.
鈥淚 shot my best and I placed.鈥�
Wasson shot after Phillips and also kept a watchful eye on the scoreboard.
鈥淚 did a lot of scoreboard watching. When the last five shot, I knew I was in,鈥� said Wasson.
Wasson was in line for another Dave Cramer Award this year, given to shooters who shoot 100-10x in each section match. He lost that chance a couple matches ago, and was a bit relieved to do so.
鈥淗onestly, I shot one nine. I was relieved,鈥� said Wasson.
Wasson also appreciated the work the coaching staff and teammates put in our his behalf.
鈥淚 want to thank (coaches) Rich Rush and Mark Pochron for the ride. They鈥� been my coaches for all four years,鈥� complimented Wasson.
Next up, the state individual and team championships.
鈥淚 want a state medal for both, team and individual,鈥� said Wasson.