Air rifling started for me when I was about 13. At first, it was just a way to get me out of the house. Now, it’s so much more.

One year, when I was probably 10 years old, my aunt got me a BB gun for Christmas.

I was kind of surprised. It was an Official Daisy Red Ryder, you know, the one from the movie ‘A Christmas Story’.

So when I went outside to take my first shots with my new toy, I didn't know if it would be good, or bad, or what a gun really is. I was shooting at those plastic solo cups at first to see if I could hit them.

And I did.

Air rifling started for me when I was about 13. I started shooting at the Maspenock Rod and Gun Club in Milford after one of my parents had a patient (my dad’s a doctor) who recommended that I try shooting.

At first, it was just a way to get me out of the house.

Now, it’s so much more.

Ever since I was of age to participate (13), I have competed in rifle shooting.

Now, four years later, I am training to qualify for the 2018 National Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the Olympic Training Center.

Last year, I had received a first-round invite for both disciplines of “my shooting”, the Men's 3P Small-bore and Prone, which is a 22 rifle, and Men's Air Rifle. My first competitive match was in the Massachusetts Bay State Games in 2014. There, I shot both disciplines, Small-bore and Air Rifle. I remember I didn’t even come close to winning.

In 2017, when I competed in the very same match, I placed second for Small-bore and third for Air Rifle.

Even though I’m four years into my journey of air rifling, I can still remember walking into the gun club down the street from my house for the first time.

I was really, really nervous. I did not want to go in, I remember fighting my parents. When I finally got there, my coach (who is still my coach) met me and explained what we would do. I remember it sounded kind of fun and I was completely on board.

Once I actually shot one of the better types of guns, the next level up from BB guns, I was hooked.

So you’re probably wondering how many guns I have, what I wear, what I shoot, and so on and so forth?

Here are the basics.

The range is kind of dark and gloomy but that’s not what everything is. It’s basically just these lanes that have numbers on them and each shooter has a designated spot to go to and that’s where they spend their three hours of training.

I own two rifles and my outfit is basically a canvas-like material. It provides stability for when I’m in position. It consists of a jacket, pants and boots. The jacket is a button down and the pants have zippers on the legs and the boots are shooting boots that lace up.

From there? I just shoot.

When I’m at the range, I feel like I have a second family with my team. I know it’s kind of basic. Each of my teammates (we are a team of four) brings a different thing to the plate. I feel at home there.

Whenever we go to compete at places like Ohio, Georgia and Colorado, we all compete together.

When we’re not together, I’m at Marian High School where I am currently a junior.

At school, I am a participant in my clubs and I’m actually my Class President.

Outside of school, and the gun club and range, I volunteer countless hours to many people in need. Even though I am passionate for everything that I do in and out of school, I am most passionate about Olympic Style Rifle Shooting.

What has shooting taught me? That question comes up every time I step foot in my club. What has this sport truly taught me? Although people have biased opinions about this sport, I feel that it has taught me life lessons that you would not get anywhere else. These lessons are things such as focus, confidence, and determination.

When it comes to those three things, shooting is just about calming yourself down and and still that’s pretty much the name of the game. It’s really hard when you’re amped up. Pretty much for shooting, you have to be able to control your emotions and control your actions for everything.

When I look back, if I wasn't a shooter I wouldn’t be living the great life I am living today.

All it took was a BB gun from my aunt. Before then, I didn’t even know about it.

Now, I’m happy I do.

The Player’s Perspective is a weekly guest column written by local high school athletes. If you would like to share an essay based on a personal experience please email Sr. Multimedia Journalist Tommy Cassell at tcassell@wickedlocal.com.