Traditional prep school riflery is held inside in a controlled environment. A recent open competition in Connecticut was held outdoors, but it proved the same result – Vaishnavi “Vivi” Venkat ’25 doesn’t miss too often.

In a field of 28 shooters, which included adults, Vivi finished with a winning score of 1,582 points of a possible 1,600 (98.8%) at the President’s Match in Norfolk, Conn. Vivi, who placed second at the same event last year, won by 18 points.

Julia Choi ’26 (1,481, 12th place) and Christian Sanchez ’27 (1,462, 14th) also competed for the Titans.

Quotes

Vivi on why she wanted to compete at the President’s Match: “This was my second time competing in this outdoor match, and since we don’t usually shoot outdoors during the regular season, I’ve really grown to enjoy the added challenge of shooting at greater distances. I find outdoor shooting more demanding and rewarding. Looking ahead to college, I wanted to gain as much competition experience as possible. Since we don’t get many opportunities for competitions in my concentration, this was a valuable experience.”

Vivi on winning the competition: “The match was grueling, especially toward the end. Outdoor conditions are always more challenging, with the sun overhead and the wind affecting shots. I had a solid performance throughout, making each shot as precise as possible. However, the hardest part was the last relay, which involved 40 shots at 100 yards - the farthest distance of the day. Holding the position steady became tough as my arm fatigued from using the sling, and I had to put the gun down and change position slightly before continuing to finish the match during the relay. Still, because of the lead I had accumulated in the earlier relays, I managed to secure the win. Having placed second in this competition last year, I was determined to win this time, so I practiced with harder targets (USA’s) during training to prepare.”

Coach Bill Passy on Vivi’s performance: “Vivi's performance was amazing to watch as a coach. Despite having very limited experience shooting outdoors and at these distances, it was business as usual for her. She takes what she's learned and applies it to the situation. This was super important at this competition because coaching was not allowed.”  

Coach Passy on why it’s important to take kids to events out of season: “These tournaments are important for the kids because it takes them outside their comfort zone and challenges them. They see competitors of all ages with similar interests that they normally wouldn't see in the high school league. Most importantly, they learn that the things we are teaching them in regards to techniques are important and apply in these different scenarios.”