Delaware Valley: Emmons Gets the Gold !

USATODAY.com - Shooter's mentality: Emmons keeps focus on target: "You won't see him in college basketball's NCAA Tournament this month, but Matt Emmons knows all about clutch shooting. In 2002, the New Jersey native, then 21 years old, won a world championships in 50-meter prone rifle shooting. He shot 596 of a possible 600 in the first round, two points off the lead. In the 10-shot final, in which 10.9 is the highest possible score per shot, his score of 103.7 pushed him over the top. He spoke with USATODAY.com's Beau Dure from USA Shooting's office in Colorado Springs."

Emmons, who graduated from UAF after the 2003 NCAA championships, has qualified to compete in all three rifle events: men's three-position shoot, men's 50-meter prone and air rifle-at the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, The games start on Aug. 13 and run through Aug. 27.

He is the first American to qualify in all three men's rifle events in the same Olympic year.

Randy Pitney, who recruited Emmons to shoot at UAF and coached him for a couple of seasons before becoming the school's athletic director, said he wouldn't be surprised if Emmons didn't win or medal in a couple of his events.

"I'm not saying just because he was at UAF, but because I know Matt as a person and he's an extremely dedicated individual. If you're not extremely dedicated you can't reach the level he has attained," Pitney said.

Emmons, who is from Browns Mill, N.J., exudes confidence every time he picks up a gun and fully expects to be the best shooter in every competition he enters." - USA Today.
Matt Emmons -- New Jersey and the Delaware Valley are proud of you... !