The sounds of gunfire echoed through the rifle range tucked away in White Building Sunday night as the rifle team geared up for the upcoming season. Following a season that ended with the team making a championship run, members of the rifle team look to carry that momentum into the 2006-07 season.

A few members of the team filed into the range to improve on their accuracy and technique for the upcoming season. Before the team could get to work on those skills, the members had to go through a detailed setup that involved getting into a jacket that streamlines the body, setting up the scope, a holder for the rounds they were to fire and aligning the rifle into the correct position.

The pressures of the upcoming season did not seem to phase the rifle team. The mood during the practice was very light-hearted, with inside jokes being cracked, talk about the recent pro football games, pictures that were being taken of the team in action, the rifle team banner that hangs in the range and amusing weekend stories.

Once practice got underway, the members became very serious as a couple of the more experienced members watched the younger members and gave them valuable advice on how to align their position and improve their hold on the rifle.

The focal point of the attention seemed to be freshman Francis O'Brien, who started out as a member of the Rifle Club and was invited to join the team. The concepts of the rifle competition are all brand new to O'Brien, who is practicing three times a week on the three position shooting (prone, kneeling and offhand), and working with the air rifle.

When asked if he felt he could contribute immediately, O'Brien said "Being a freshman, without experience, it will take time, but with work, I feel I can contribute to the team"

O'Brien is also trying to eliminate the pressures of the upcoming season.

"I feel more pressure from myself than anything else. I just need to go out there, have fun, and eliminate the mental pressures of the season."

The coach of the team, Colton White, has high expectations for the upcoming season.

"I'd like to see them reach championships again. They got to championships last year and I'd like to see them maintain that consistency," he said.

O'Brien also backed up the sentiments of his coach:

"With enough practice and staying mentally focused on what we need to do that we can live up to the expectations of Coach White."

When asked how the team was preparing for the season Colton gave a two-part answer.

"As a club, I'd like to see us get more members, and competitively, we just need more practice."

The rifle team will look to get off to a successful start to the 2006-2007 season in two weeks when it hosts Loyola on Nov. 4.