A Republic High School senior who had never fired a gun until last year broke an 11-year-old national Air Force JROTC record at the Missouri State Marksmanship Championship.
Keely Gott scored 199-16 in the prone position during her final high school marksmanship competition, surpassing a record that stood for 11 years.
“I could tell after my third shot, when I had gotten all three of those tens, that I am shooting really good today,” Gott said. “This is going to be a really good day.”
Gott began competitive shooting just this year, with her first competition in November.
“I have never shot a gun in my life until last year,” Gott said. “I did archery for a couple of years and I go hunting with a bow and arrow, but I’ve never shot a gun before.”
Lt. Col. Patrick Sanders noted Gott’s quick progression in the sport.
“Cadet Gott is one of the rare marksman that had a natural ability to adapt to the demanding constraints of practice and competitions,” Sanders said. “She never had to be told twice on how to improve. Tremendously coachable.”
Gott credited her archery background for helping with some aspects of marksmanship.
“Definitely the focus… having to focus on where I’m trying to aim and where I’m aiming compared to where it hits. It definitely helps a lot with changing sights,” she said.
The record surprised even Gott, who hadn’t considered the possibility.
“I didn’t think I would break a record. I didn’t even think that there was a record, to be honest,” she said. Her previous best in the prone position was around 196.
Gott said her National Guard training last summer was a factor in her competitive success.
“We did training over the summer, which really helped me progress into getting good at JROTC,” she said.
Her fast start during the most recent competition helped her reach the record by calming her down as the competition unfolded.
“My mentality always helps me, because once I start feeling like I’m doing bad, I start getting really anxious and it makes me shake a lot,” Gott said. “But if I feel like I’m doing good, it helps me relax and like, ‘I can do this. I have the skill.'”
The record performance came in her last high school marksmanship competition. After graduation, Gott plans to attend Missouri State University and hopes to continue her marksmanship career.
