Driving for Success Junior Shooter Spotlight: Kyle Johnson BY ROB LARSON, ISSF REFEREE/JUDGE
Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz. Event: Men’s Skeet Firearm: Krieghoff K-80 Ammunition: Winchester AA Other Equipment: Pilla shooting glasses
Olympic hopeful Kyle John-
son had a busy year in 2012. He attended school full time, and also found time to train as one of USA Shooting’s newest Na- tional Junior Team Members. As if that weren’t enough to occupy him, Kyle can be found hunting, fi shing and water skiing when he isn’t on the range or in class. He is also working on restoring his vintage car—a 1970 Road Run- ner. This spring, Kyle will receive his Associate’s Degree in Biologi- cal Science from Mesa Commu- nity College. The upcoming year also boasts a packed calendar. This aspiring Olympian plans on returning to school in the fall of 2013 to pursue a degree in Bio- chemistry. Kyle’s hard work has paid off
with the opportunity to travel and top the podium. In 2012, Kyle won the Arizona State Junior Olympic Skeet gold medal, the Arizona State NSSA Champion-
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ship High Over All (HOA) and the Copper State Open. Kyle also placed third HOA in the Junior World Collegiate Champion- ships, fi fth in the junior division at the U.S. Olympic Trials, third place in Junior Men’s Skeet at the 2012 USA Shooting Na- tional Championships and tied for fourth place in Men’s Skeet. Kyle has also been selected to the 2012 Krieghoff All-American Junior Team, the 2012 Arizona State Skeet Team, the 2012 Zone Seven junior fi rst team and the open second team. But the highlight of his year was when he was selected to the USA Shoot- ing National Junior Olympic Team and then earned a spot on the National Junior Team. I asked Kyle how he found
time to do it all and he casually replied, “Training and school take up most of my time every week. I have a heavy class sched- ule during the beginning of the
week and lighter at the end of the week, so I have a lot of time on Thursdays, Fridays and the weekend to train. I also do this so I can shoot competitions that start on Fridays.” In a typical week, Kyle multi-
tasks by hanging out with friends during school or after school ear- lier in the week. He averages 30- 35 hours per week either in the classroom or hitting the books studying hard. The rest of his week is devoted to training and competitions. He keeps his form sharp by practicing gun mounts every day for at least an hour or two.
“I know my schedule for
school and whenever the range is open—if I don’t have to be at school—then I plan on training at the range. My dad and I plan our time by looking at the dates of the upcoming shoots. We work backwards from there by decid- ing how much time I have to
practice and what I need to do to prepare for an upcoming shoot. We coordinate when he can get off work while I’m off school, and then we both go to the range.” Kyle trains at The Ben Avery
Shooting Range during the week and several times per month at the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club. Kyle’s dad, Bob, has always been his coach, but Kyle has also at- tended a Junior Olympic Devel- opment Camp in 2008 as well as several other skeet clinics. Most recently he spent a week training at the Hancock Shooting Academy. Kyle credits the Scho- lastic Clay Target Program for get- ting him started in competitive shooting. He aims to compete in the Olympic Games and with his strong work ethic, I am sure he will succeed.
Kyle earned a spot on the National Junior Team with a bronze medal performance at the 2012 National Championships in Jr. Men’s Skeet.