DATE: Sunday, April 20, 1997                TAG: 9704180223

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 12   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   60 lines

AIR RIFLE SQUAD MOST DECORATED, LEAST KNOWN

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT to Eastern District-winning volleyball and cross country teams that wear Churchland's orange and black, the most decorated squad at the school competes in battle fatigues.

Alas, the Truckers' Marine Corps Junior ROTC air rifle team is also the least celebrated. Even many of their fellow classmates are unaware that:

The team captures championship trophies faster than corduroy pants pick up lint, including 22 last season alone;

One of its shooters, Don Truax, ranks among the top 10 in the country in his division;

The team practices in a rifle range inside Churchland High School.

``We don't get a lot of attention,'' said Maj. Carl Kusky, the team's coach. ``But this team does exceptionally well.''

That they're the best in South Hampton Roads says little, since Churchland is the only school in the area doing this sort of thing competitively. But the Truckers have also placed first in the six-team, state-wide Olympic Development Junior Rifle League, beating out teams from Richmond, Lynchburg and Newport News.

Its top shooter, junior Don Truax, placed ninth in the country in a regional competition and expects an invitational to the national finals in Colorado Springs, Colo. Sophomore Dwayne Pyle finished among the top 30 regionally.

The team trains two hours at a time three days a week, often in the air rifle range tucked away in the mezzanine at Churchland High. The range is about as wide as a basketball lane and longer than two bowling alleys.

The Truckers fire at targets about the size of a half-dollar from 10-meters away, trying to pick off a bulls eye half the size of a grape seed.

Others on Kusky's 10-shooter roster: freshman James Mancill, junior Josh Harrison, sophomore Joan Pritchard, sophomore Tyrone Timberlake, freshman Jason Balonis, senior Jason Denette, sophomore Rusty Carter and sophomore John Truax.

``This sport is 90 percent mental,'' said Don Truax, who has only two years experience. ``If you shoot a bad shot, you need to put it behind you. Relax. Take it one shot at a time.''

Despite the relative inexperience of the group - most of the shooters are first or second-year team members - Truax said the sport is not difficult to pick up, provided one receives proper training.

``If you've been going out with your daddy's shotgun, we can correct for that,'' he said.

Truax cut his firing teeth shooting 22s with the Boy Scouts and quickly developed into an air-rifle standout.

``He's a natural,'' Kusky said.

Truax said he plans to graduate early next January and join the Marine Corps. He said 50 percent of the team will wind up in the armed forces.

The Truckers' next competition is May 3 in the Department of Virginia American Legion Air Rifle Tournament in Charlottesville. Churchland is the defending champion. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PAUL WHITE

Don Truax, a shooter on Churchland's Marine Corps Junior ROTC air

rifle team, ranks among the top 10 in the country in his division.

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