Head coach Kevin Johnson and the Salisbury rifle team recently wrapped up the 2016-17 season. The winter may have ended with the Falcons going 0-9 in the Northeast Pennsylvania Scholastic Rifle League, but the positives went well beyond the record.

Johnson witnessed all of his team members, 15 participants in total, improve on their shooting averages over the course of the year. He also watched as his senior class closed out successful careers and paved the way for the younger participants.

“Although we went winless, the season went well and the team achieved its set goals,” Johnson said. “The team as a whole showed steady improvement, bringing its average up through the bulk of the season, and each shooter made noticeable strides in improving their individual ability. The team continues to take steps forward from previous seasons and refine its techniques to become better, more proficient shooters.”

The season came to a close a little more than two weeks ago against North Pocono, who defeated the Falcons by a score of 468-398. But the final score, or winless record for that matter, won’t be the lasting memory Johnson has.

This group, led by Rebecca Aungst and Bryce Erdman to name a few, competed its best on the range this year. Those two, along with second-year shooter Matthew Staack, have held averages in the high 80s all year. The group of 15 Falcons have made this season an unforgettable one for Johnson as the team fights to become one of the league’s premier squads.

“Of the 15 shooters that make up a season’s team, usually a quarter to half are returning team members, some of which who have shot for the team their entire four years of high school,” Johnson said.

“I’m here to teach these kids to engage in shooting sports safely, and strive to continuously improve the perishable skill of firearms marksmanship while fostering a positive attitude.”

The averages on the range were impressive to see for Johnson. But the Falcon head coach also saw his group learn the safety aspect of the sport, perfect each one’s mental state in high-pressured situations, and maintain steady focus from Day 1.

“Beyond the technical aspects of the shooting sports, firearm safety and the proper practice of safe firearm handling is always paramount,” Johnson said. “I always tell my team that if we can engage in this sport safety, with a healthy respect for firearms coupled with an increasing interest in the shooting sports and a desire to better improve our skills as marksman, then I’ve done my job as a coach; the score at the end of the match and the record at the end of the season isn’t really all that important.”

In rifle, participants are awarded a possible total score of 100 (10 points per each bull’s-eye on the target). Using 22-caliber rifles, 10 shooters participate at each match, with the top five scorers rounding out the team score.

Some of this group will graduate in the upcoming months, leaving voids to fill throughout the roster. But with continued practice in the offseason, Johnson expects Salisbury to take a number of steps forward in the foreseeable future.

“With the season at its end, it’s now time for the team members to continue to work on and refine their shooting skill on their own in the offseason,” Johnson said. “Marksmanship is a perishable skill, and as such, I’ve encouraged the team to continue to engage in the shooting sports formally through local shooting clubs and informally with family and friends.

“I too will be continuing to refine my marksmanship skills, both as a practitioner and as a coach. When the team and myself reconvene in October for the 2017-18 season, we will put into play what we’ve practiced and continue the progress of the team to reach ever higher levels of proficiency.”

Emmaus finished the regular season 9-0 and defeated East Stroudsburg South for the NEPSRL playoff championship on last week.