If you were to ask Cranston High School West senior Emily Lopez about her favorite hobbies, you might expect a typical answer like shopping, hanging out with friends, or maybe participating in a team sport.

But you’d likely be surprised to hear her actual response – riflery.

“I got into shooting because my dad and Uncle Tom would go skeet shooting and sometimes they’d take me along,” Emily said. “My first vivid memory of shooting was when I was 8 years old. I was watching my dad and his friends shoot clay targets out of the sky and I remember asking if I could try. My dad’s friend loaned me a modified 20-gauge that fit perfectly. The very first time I shot the clay out of the sky, the instant gratification had me hooked on the sport.”

In fact, Emily was so hooked on the sport, she had her father sign her up for a junior rifle team. The team opportunity allowed her to shoot for a score, and she fell in love with the competition and precision of the sport.

“I started shooting at age 10, but took a break when I was 13 and only entered the competition world in late 2019 when I was 15,” she said. “I shoot a Standard Anschutz .22 long rifle with a bolt action. I shoot once a week in my South County program.”

Over a three-day period in August, she attended the Army West Point Elite Rifle Camp held at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.

“The three-day camp was divided up into classroom lessons, where we learned techniques. The other part of the camp was us implementing the techniques on the range and having other elite shooters coach and correct us,” Emily said.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the West Point campus itself was on lockdown, so only the camp participants were allowed on the grounds. Emily, along with one other girl from the South County area and a boy from Coventry, were the only representatives from Rhode Island of out of the 21 participants.

“The Elite Level instructors – all either Olympians or world-record holders – stressed the importance of mental tenacity needed to succeed in the sport,” she said. “They gave us tips on strengthening our mental endurance while simultaneously giving our whole bodies a work out. We did balance exercises and training with holding our rifles in position. These exercises promoted syncing our minds and bodies while on the shooting line.”

Emily plans to apply to West Point as a cadet next fall. If she ultimately chooses a civilian college, she hopes to be able to pursue her shooting career at the collegiate level.

READY, AIM, SHOOT: Cranston West senior Emily Lopez practices her shooting skills and techniques at the Army West Point Elite Rifle Camp. (Courtesy of Carlos Lopez)