Despite falling to Emmaus in Thursday evening's rifle meet, a 483-423 defeat to the Hornets at the Emmaus Police Range in Emmaus Community Park, the Salisbury team continues to show improvements each time at the range.

Under second-year head coach Kevin Johnson, his teachings and emphasis throughout the season have been more than just competing against fellow league members. He preaches the importance of gun safety, and being mature and responsible during the meets.

The Falcons have put together a group that has done just that through five league meets in the 10-team Northeast Pennsylvania Scholastic Rifle League.

"I don't put too much emphasis on how well they do," Johnson said. "To me, them coming here is going to be about gun safety and having fun. It is a very competitive sport. There are very excellent shooters on my team and other teams in the league."

The ability to maintain one's self control while shooting is a big aspect of the sport. And for junior Sydney Costenbader, who led the Falcons with a score of 94, she has worked on that aspect of her game all season long.

"Definitely self control because you have to learn how to put down your heartbeat in a quick amount of time because the match starts before you know it," Costenbader said. "I have to learn how to control my own breathing, because when I look at the target, one breath can move the sight way off the target."

Throughout the season, both teams have shown a great sense of maturity and responsibility in every meet. And while most other sports require physical maturation and strength, the sport of rifle calls for a strong mental state above anything else, an aspect that every student has shown.

"I don't really put emphasis on the score," Johnson said. "I like to see that they're getting some education in rifles and firearms, and that they're doing it safely."

Although the Falcons, who have 15 shooters on the team, came up short to udefeated Emmaus, they put together their highest scoring outing of the season. They have averaged 412.8 points per meet through the first five.

Costenbader's 94 was also her highest of the season. To go along with her score, the other top-four scorers shot an 80 or higher. Max Kucsan shot an 88, and Samantha Heiserman (84), Adam Frick (82) and Josh Bonner (80) rounded out the top five.

All five of Emmaus's scorers shot above a 96, including a 98 by Austin Miller and a 97 by Joe Albro.

"It's a positive sport," Johnson said. "The emphasis is that safety is paramount before the score or anything else."