If Ohio State’s varsity pistol team was aiming to make a name for itself winter quarter, it hit the bull’s-eye.”We finished number eight in the country!” said David Murphy, one of three letterwinners back from the 1996-97 season. “That’s very good, especially for a team that doesn’t have much experience.”According to Murphy, the road to nationals is structured a lot like a basketball tournament. He said that a team must progress through different levels such as sectionals, districts and regionals. The Buckeyes eventually ended up at nationals in Atlanta at the Wolf Creek Olympic Shooting Park. Some of the opponents OSU faced at nationals were the US Naval Academy, the Citadel, the University of Virginia, the University of Southern California, the US Air Force Academy and the Virginia Military Institute.Another claim to fame for the scarlet and gray shooters is their second team All-American member Jill Noel. To be selected to the All-America team, a candidate must pass through an extensive consideration process. “They take into consideration our scores from sectionals, grades and letters of recommendation,” Noel said. In addition to earning second team All-American honors, Noel qualified for nationals in three individual events. She placed fifth in sport pistol, ninth in air pistol and also competed in standard pistol.OSU’s varsity team was composed of nine members. Rob Caldwell, Mike Holmes, Laura Murray, Brian Tessneer, Karen Tessneer, Amin Varghai, and Josh Holt joined their captains, Murphy and Noel, on the award-winning trip.”We plan on being a strong team again next year,” Murphy said. “Nobody’s graduating, so we hope to finish in the top three next year.”Little is known about the day-to-day activity of the pistol team. Coached by John Wynne, the team does drills, exercises and run-through matches. The Buckeyes practice for two hours, four days per week during the autumn and winter quarters, Noel said. The team’s practice shooting range is located in the basement of Converse Hall (ROTC building). It’s there the Buckeyes spend countless hours firing at target bull’s-eyes 50 feet away.Murphy and Noel agree that pistol shooting is very much a mind sport. In fact, the team’s psychologist equates a shooter’s mental strength to a football player’s physical power.No prior experience with shooting is necessary in order to become involved with the team. Noel said she started by joining the pistol club and then moved up to the varsity team.”It’s a lot of fun,” Murphy said.However, Murphy explained that the pistol team is not all about fun and games. “We also learn gun safety and discipline,” he added.