The Emmaus rifle team proved it shoots better than just around the mark.

The Hornets claimed the 2022 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Prone Smallbore Rifle Championship last Feb. 19 and 20 in Dubois. Coach Michael Schuler’s shooters amassed a 1018.7 overall score, ahead of Butler and Southern Lehigh who tied for second with 1014.3 each.

In the team results, Griffin Lake led the way with a 209.7 mark, with Nathan Servais second at 206.7, followed by Aubrey Marshall in third and Molly Yard in fourth. Rowan Kratz, Kaden Issa, Sanaiya O’Neal, Shannon Anders, Bryce Dunn and Madison Carreiro rounded out the Hornet score card.

“The kids shot great,” Schuler said. “I couldn’t be prouder of how they did as a team. Really, just very happy with how they showed up for the state tournament.”

One Hornet shooter who did more than show up is marksman Griffin Lake, who was the individual state smallbore (579 with 24 center shots), air rifle (394 with 27 center shots), and prone (415.1) champion.

“Griffin is just a special kid,” his coach said. “He’s very driven and very, very good at what he does.”

Lake’s not just proficient with a firearm, he’s a team leader.

“He’s a very knowledgeable resource I’m very lucky to have on the team as almost a fourth coach,” Schuler said. “In all honesty, I expect to see him on the NCAA leader boards and at the Olympics within the next decade, for sure.”

In the individual prone competition, Emmaus’ Molly Yard finished 24th overall registering a 400.4 score, while teammate Nathan Servais took 36th place at 397.