With one regular season match remaining, the Emmaus rifle squad has taken aim already at a successful season, registering a 7-1 record.

The Hornets earned a postseason spot with a Jan. 6 victory over Liberty and went into two important matches last week at 6-0.

“The team is shooting extremely well,” head coach Michael Schuler said. “It’s hard to keep the focus needed for this sport consistently, week-in and week out. But we’re getting a lot of great production from a young team.”

The Hornets have kept their focus throughout a season that started Nov. 19 with four days of practice before the Thanksgiving break, four days the week after the holiday before the matches started the second week of December. There’s also the on-again, off-again aspect to the team’s practice schedule where sometimes shooters can’t consistently get to the range.

Last Tuesday Emmaus suffered its first loss of the season, 499-500 to Southern Lehigh. The Spartans moved alone into first place in the Northeast Pennsylvania Rifle League with the victory at 7-0. Two days later, the Hornets downed Berwick 498-42x-to-498-36x.

In the Southern Lehigh match, Sonaiya O’Neal, Griffin Lake, Molly Yard and Ryan Gerhart fired 100s, with O’Neal hitting the mark 10 times, Lake nine times, and Yard and Gerhart eight times each. Nathan Servais shot a 99, hitting the mark seven times.

Against Berwick, Aubrey Marshall, Lake and O’Neal each shot 100s, with Lake and O’Neal hitting the mark 10 times and Marshall registering eight marks. Issa and Carreiro registered 99 scores each, with both hitting the bullseye seven times.

“Southern Lehigh has always been an extremely tough matchup,” the coach said. “Coach Robert Gaugler always brings a great team to the range. Berwick’s another tough matchup.”

The regular season was scheduled to conclude Jan. 20 when Emmaus hosted East Stroudsburg South. Looking ahead, the NPRL All-Star Tournament is scheduled for Jan. 27, with the Team Tournament semifinals happening Feb. 1 and the championship and consolation matches set for two days later. State individual qualifier, individual and team matches occur Feb. 8, 10 and 15, respectively.

“I hope to make a deep run in the tournament and represent Emmaus at states later this year,” Schuler said.