Statesboro High student shooting for the stars, wins state riflery title

STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - The GHSA sanctions ten different Spring sports. Most of them won’t surprise you – baseball, golf, soccer, tennis. But one you might not be as familiar with? Riflery.

Statesboro High School junior Katlyn Sullivan is very familiar with the sport, though, as she just claimed the state title earlier this month – a first for her and the Blue Devils.

“A lot of people, at least at the high school level, don’t know that there is a rifle team,” said Sullivan. “It’s like, ‘Wait, that’s a sport? We have a team? Where do you guys shoot?’ ‘In school.’ And that’s an even bigger shocker.”

Sullivan first started learning how to shoot at an early age, thanks to the guidance of her dad and grandfather. Then in fifth grade, she attended a camp at Georgia Southern, which was enough to spark the passion.

“I think the last day of that camp, they had one of the team shooters for the rifle team there come in and show what the rifle looked like and explained a bit about what they shoot. I just wanted to know more about it, wanted to get into it,” said Sullivan.

Since then, she has found success in several state and national competitions and is a three-time Junior Olympics qualifier for USA Shooting. She has also competed in the Olympic Trials and now has her sights set on making the team in 2028.

“Basically, the top 50 in the world, they can all shoot great,” said Sullivan. “It’s who has the best thought processes that day and who controls their mind to execute the best that day.”

Whether you’re a beginner or you’re like Katlyn and much closer to expert level, she says that pushing yourself and knowing there’s always room for growth is one of the biggest keys to the sport.

“I think I’ve plateaued for nearly a whole year. And it was like, ‘I want this next level so badly, give it to me’. And you just keep fighting for it. You keep going to the range, working on your process, and figuring out what’s the small thing I can do to get better,” said Sullivan.

Katlyn will be spending her Spring Break at the Junior Olympics in Colorado. Then, come November, she’s hoping to sign on with a college team and continue with the sport at the next level.

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