Rifle School? TCU’s most dominant team reminds us that sports did, in fact, exist at one point

With the outbreak of Corona Virus and the canceling of all collegiate spring sports, a lot of uncertainty rests in the hearts of athletes, coaches, and fans around the country. Nevertheless, one thing rings true through it all for Frog fans—our rifle team is dang good.

After bringing home a national championship for the Frogs in 2019, TCU Rifle was eager to defend their title at the 2020 NCAA Championships March 13-14.

As we all know, the Frogs never got a chance, as the event was canceled last week, along with all other winter and spring championships.

While we will never get to see if TCU could go back-to-back, the sharpshooters from Fort Worth were able to show just how dominate they had been with the announcement of All-America honors this past weekend.

Six Horned Frogs were honored, receiving a combined 13 All-America honors from the College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) and the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The only team in the country that had more athletes receive honors was West Virginia, who saw eight of their shooters recognized.

Leading the charge were freshman Stephanie Grundsoee and sophomore Kristen Hemphill, who were both unanimous first team All-Americans.

Grundsoee was dominant all year, sitting in the top five in averages for smallborne and air rifle. Her team-high aggregate mark of 1,180.7 ranked third nationally.

Right behind Grundsoee was Hemphill with a 1,179.7 (ranked fourth nationally). This was the Lohn, Texas, native’s second-straight year to be named to the first team by the NRA.

Reflecting on what this season could have been is most difficult for senior Casey Lutz, who saw her final season get cut short.

Lutz certainly made the most of the time the Frogs did have, though, earning three All-American honors to bring her career total to 11. Her 594.0 season average led to a PRC Individual Air Rifle Title and the cherry on top of a phenomenal career.

Rounding out the awards for TCU were junior Elizabeth Marsh, sophomore Abigail Gordon, and freshman Grace Taschuk.

Losing just one of their six All-Americans and four of their 12 team members, the Horned Frogs certainly carry depth into next season. Whenever sports do return, TCU fans should expect nothing less than the utter dominance that TCU Rifle has shown in the last few years.

Until then…