Ohio Valley Conference

Murray State Sports Information

Former Murray State rifle standout and current rifle assistant coach Morgan Hicks has earned her spot in the rifle World Cup and rifle World Championships competing for the United States team. The World Cup is scheduled for May 30 in Milan, Italy, while the World Championship is scheduled for July 22 in Zagreb, Croatia.

Hicks will leave for the World Cup on May 20, and she will compete in both air rifle and smallbore along with two other Team USA members in Emily Caruso (Norwich University) and Jamie Beyerle (University of Alaska-Fairbanks). Air rifle consists of 40 shots, while smallbore includes 60 shots ? 20 in each of the positions of prone, kneeling, and standing.

Qualifying for these events was held in April in Fort Benning, Ga., where Hicks placed second in both the smallbore and air rifle events. In order to qualify for the World Cup competition, she had to finish in the top two in each event, and for the World Championship, the top three for each event.

The World Cup is held once every year, while the World Championship is held once every four years.

Once Hicks returns from her overseas journey, she will return to the USA Shooting Nationals held in Fort Benning.

Always known for her strong work ethic while at MSU, Hicks is enjoying the experience of competing for Team USA.

“I shoot five to six days a week,” the Roy, Wash. native said. “I’ll shoot three hours a day. Working out, coaching, and working my Master’s in secondary education, I don’t have time for much of anything else.”

“I love it. I would not be able to go to the places I’ve been and are going if it weren’t for shooting.”

Hicks is no stranger to world competition, as this will be her second time competing in the World Championship. As a sophomore at MSU, Hicks placed 12th in the junior category at the World Championship held in Finland.

Hicks’ best finish at a World Cup is a seventh place finish in 2004 in Milan, just before the Olympics held in Athens, Greece. In those Olympic Games, Hicks finished 12th in smallbore rifle.

An eight-time All-American selection while at MSU, Hicks wrapped up her magnificent four-year career at MSU in 2004, capping the season off by winning the 2004 NCAA Air Rifle title. Hicks just recently completed her first season as a graduate assistant coach to the 2005-2006 MSU rifle team, coached by Ann Proctor.

“I’m very fortunate,” Hicks said. “It’s great having a range right here on campus that I can train on while I’m here at Murray State.”