Higgins targets Spain for World Championships
9/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Rifle
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. - According to USA Shooting, there is a youth movement afoot in the USA Shooting rifle program. Next week, sharpshooters who make up the USA Shooting team, both veterans and junior members, will converge on Granada, Spain, for the 2014 World Championships on Sept.8-19. On target for Granada is Air Force cadet David Higgins from Cadet Squadron 26 who will be among those to represent the U.S. in Spain.
Higgins, a junior from San Clemente, CA, has been a member of the Air Force rifle team for three years, and has been shooting since his youth. Since 2012, he has earned the respect of his teammates and coaches.
"Coach Anti and I are thrilled to say the least," said Air Force head coach Launi Meili. "In fact, we worked with David to set his goals on making the junior World Championship team, and David ups the challenge for himself, beating out past Olympians to make the open team. That's an even bigger accomplishment, but one he is obviously ready to compete for."
Since his freshman year, Higgins started the groundwork that would set him on a steady rise in his performance, from the first match of his career to eventually making the World Championship team.
"David came to the Academy with a strong background in high-power rifle," said Meili. "He was really just beginning his smallbore and air rifle career, but it didn't take long for the foundation he built in high power to serve him well in the other events."
Higgins' progression to the World Championships began in 2013. In the National Junior Olympic Games, Higgins earned a bronze medal and became eligible for the Spring Selection Matches. In the matches, he earned 1887.0 points, finishing in third place, which qualified him for his first-ever World Championships.
"This past calendar year, everything has really come together for me," said Higgins. "All the support I have received throughout my shooting career, the endless training that I have completed has shown through in competition, when I needed it the most."
In Spain, Higgins will join three-time Olympic gold medalist Matt Emmons and 2012 Olympian Michael McPhail in the men's 50m prone.
"Being a part of Team USA and being able to compete at the World Championships is truly an honor," said Higgins. "I will be giving it everything I've got in order to properly represent the United State of America."
