Senior captains lead Falcons to NCAA Championships
3/1/2025 1:54:00 PM | Rifle
Rifle is the only sport in the NCAA that men and women compete directly against each other. For the 2024-25 season, the Falcons are led by a female and male captain as seniors Lauren Hurley and Scott Rockett were chosen to lead the team. While each brings a different leadership style to the team, the pair has led the Falcons to the NCAA Rifle Championships and will compete, March 14-15, in Lexington, Ky.
Scott: I find that we have very different leadership styles. While Lauren appeals to the emotional side of shooting, I focus on leading by example and holding the team accountable of their goals. One of the toughest parts of the sport is to come down with a growth mindset each day especially when you are not shooting well. Most of the team has seen me go through peaks and valleys, and I find that to be a prime opportunity to provide an example of what it's like to break through that adversity while maintaining the same level of determination and positivity throughout. I like pushing the team in the right direction by providing the experience and insight they need to grow while simultaneously allowing them to buy into the plan and attack it with a positive attitude and a strong effort.
Lauren: Scott and I have different traits that created the team dynamic. His role was on the range, helping the team with intense on-the-line training and I focused on the camaraderie of the team and helping with the emotional side and stresses that come with being a cadet and athlete at the Academy. I focused a lot on the girls and their development, helping with confidence on the team and creating trust in themselves.
How did you get into the sport of rifle and how were you able to progress to become a collegiate All-American and team captain?
Scott: I was nine years old and wanted to play paintball. My mom had a coworker that recommended a shooting club if I was interested in shooting and my mom was half convinced she was taking me to a paintball shooting team. I was the worst shooter on the line, but I loved the sport. This was different from baseball and football, I was good at those sports but I didn't have any love for the sport. Shooting I was terrible at, but focused on the challenge of it and found the love of going to the range. Ten years later I found myself on podiums not only at the NCAA championships but all over the world, never focusing on winning or on a score to shoot, just by focusing on myself and striving to get better. I take this into being a team captain because when I talk with my team, its never about score or winning. Its about finding joy in the process and striving to hit the mark of 1% better every day. I push the team to find this in shooting, once learned on the line, I challenge them to take that knowledge and use it beyond the range.\
Lauren: I began shooting in sixth grade at Tri-County Gun Club in Sherwood, Oregon. The club and coaches created a competitive environment in which I was able to thrive in and quickly gain my skills. I went to the National Junior Olympics my eighth grade year and looked at D1 schools (Air Force in particular), which showed me that there was a chance for me to be a part of that community. At our club, two girls graduated and went to Ole Miss, which fueled the fire for me to go to college and shoot on a rifle team. Once realizing that this was a goal for me, I set my sights on the Air Force Academy and set myself up for success to get into the academy. Once getting into the Academy, I worked hard on and off the range to become an All-American athlete multiple years in a row. It had brought be great pride to now be a team captain alongside the rest of my team.
Most memorable moment at the Academy as a rifle competitor?
All-Americans: Lauren has earned All-America honors all three years and five All-America honors in her career. Last season, she earned second-team All-America honors in air rifle and smallbore and was third team in aggregate. She has shot a perfect score of 600 in air rifle twice in her career. Scott has earned All-America honors all three years and five All-America honors in his career. He won the NCAA air rifle championship as a freshman and was All-America in all three disciplines that season.
Scott: My freshman year, taking the last shot at the NCAA Championships on home turf, knowing that I had won, turning around and seeing my team, my family, and all of my supporters cheering was awesome. All I could think about was how I couldn't have done it without them. My sophomore year, competing for Team USA, we beat Denmark in the final to take the podium in Cairo, Egypt. This was not my first international medal, but it was the first one with a team. Representing your country, showing the world who we are and what it means to be an American is an indescribable feeling unparalleled by anything else.
Lauren: The most memorable moment I had as a competitor was shooting in Ohio during my sophomore year. At that match, I shot my second 600 in air rifle. As proud as I am of that achievement, the overwhelming emotion that came with it is even more memorable. I remember getting off the line in the middle of my competition and telling my coaches how nervous I was that I was on track to shoot a 600. I tried so hard in that match that when I was done, my coach gave me a huge hug, held me by the shoulders, and told me how proud she was that I had done it. Someone on the line was taking photos and captured this moment. It's one of my favorite pictures with her; we both have the biggest smiles on our faces.
The summers at the Air Force Academy are broken up into three, three-week periods, giving cadets incredible opportunities. Scott and Lauren describe the summer of 2024 leading into their senior years.
Scott: Over the summer, I went on exchange to Delaware State to get my private pilot's license. This was a unique experience because I was tasked with being a mentor to the 27 other students in the program who were all JROTC. It was a fantastic opportunity helping, guiding, and leading those kids to overcome one of the most monumental challenges they have faced. It was a fantastic program and most, along with myself, got their PPL's at the end. For me, it was a great opportunity to learn about leadership before heading into my senior year and captains role at the Academy.
Lauren: The summer before going into my senior year, I was a flight commander for Demons Alpha, Cadet Squadron 16. I enjoyed working with the basics over the summer; teaching them how to be new cadets and working with them to become leaders of character. Being a leader in that capacity taught me different things about myself and how to lead and train others. I moved into the peer role for basics and was able to help them through their struggles as they navigated basic training. I am now the Squadron Commander for CS-16 for our academic year. My role allows me to take on more leadership aspects, encourage a positive environment and ensure the squadron executes the mission given to us.
What will you be doing after graduation?
Scott: After graduation, I will be spending 60 days in Europe and with my family before heading to Del Rio, TX to fly planes.
Lauren: After graduation, I will be going to JB Charleston, SC as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer, which I am extremely excited for. The position and location were my top choices, so I could not be more thrilled. I am grateful for everything that the Air Force Academy has given me. The education, military training, friendships, and experiences are unparalleled, and I appreciate my opportunity to be a cadet here. Before I head to Charleston, I will enjoy my 60 days with friends and family in Oregon and do some traveling.
