The Emmaus rifle team opened the new season 2-0 with solid performances in both of its first two matches.

Last Tuesday the Green Hornets traveled to the Hellertown Sportsman’s Association where they beat Salisbury 500-475. Leading the way for Emmaus was Griffin Lake with a 100 score and 10 bullseyes. Molly Yard finished also with a 100 score and with nine bullseyes, while Zack Brenner, Kayden Issa and Shannon Anders each had 100 scores with eight bullseyes.

Bryce Dunn and Maddy Corriero were next with 99 points, followed by Sanaiya O’Neal, Aubrey Marshall and Nick Heffner with 98. Overall Emmaus earned 43 bullseyes.

Emmaus coach Michael Schuler is impressed with Marshall’s maturity as a shooter and as a person.

“Aubrey is such a great calming presence that I’m able to trust that if she’s in an area with other students during matches away from me, I don’t need to check on them,” Schuler said. “I know she’ll have them doing the right thing. She’s a pretty great shot too.”

Shooters have routines and a road match presents them with challenges to stayed focused.

“For away matches some of the older students that drive themselves to our home range get something to eat before the bus gets there to take us wherever we are going,” Schuler said. “Once we get there, the coaches and I set up our equipment and connect with the other coaching staff while the kids do whatever they all do individually to get locked in. Some of them just work normally with their homework, while others are just very zoned in and listening to music to get ready.”

The season opener on Dec. 8 against Freedom was a thriller, with Emmaus edging out the Pates 500-498. A total of five Hornet shooters - Lake, O’Neal, Yard, Brenner and Dunn all registered 100 scores with Lake and O’Neal firing 10 bullseyes, Yard and Brenner nine and Dunn seven.