Barnes sisters aim high on Alaska rifle team

FAIRBANKS — The Alaska Nanooks rifle team likes to push each other to get better.

For Jaimie and Kasey Barnes, there are family bragging rights on the line along with getting better.

The sisters are at least the third set of siblings to shoot for the Nanooks together. Jace and Cole Bures shot together during the 2009-10 season and John and Matt Holz shot together in the 2001-02 season.

“You’re always pushing yourself against your other teammates but it’s a little more fun; there’s a little more pushing when you’re related to them. But its a lot of fun,” Jaimie said following the second relay against Nebraska on Sunday at the E.F. Horton Rifle Range.

The No. 7 Nanooks downed the No. 5 Cornhuskers 4,700-4,657 on Sunday. The Nanooks shot a program-record 2,376 in air rifle and a 2,324 in smallbore.

The Cornhuskers fired a 2,344 in air rifle and a 2,313 in smallbore.

Redshirt freshman Sagen Maddalena led the Nanooks with a match-high 599 in air rifle. Senior Ryan Anderson shot a match-high 584 to lead the Nanooks in smallbore.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Kasey said of shooting with Jaimie. “Really good challenge to have someone that you know so well.”

Kasey, a freshman, tied her personal best with 574 in smallbore on Sunday while Jaimie shot a 566. Jaimie, a junior, had the higher score in air rifle with a 581.

Kasey shot a 574 in air rifle.

Neither Barnes’ scores counted toward the team score.

Sunday’s match was the second straight match that Kasey, a general studies major, has set personal bests. She shot a 574 in smallbore and a 583 in air rifle against Kentucky on Saturday.

Jaimie’s 583 in air rifle against the No. 2 Wildcats was also a personal best.

On Sunday, the sisters were shooting next to each other while shooting air rifle, the second relay of the day.

“We don’t usually intentionally do it,” Jaimie said. “Sometimes we will just to be nice to our parents. When they come to watch we try and not be on opposite ends because then they can’t see both of us. It’s usually just coincidence.”

The duo, who also shot together while at Lathrop High School, admitted there is a little bit of a sibling rivalry.

“There’s always a little sibling rivalry,” Jaimie said. “We leave it on the line.”

“Sort of, but its all friendly,” Kasey said.

Kasey said she has learned things from Jaimie, a justice major, and the rest of the Nanooks through the six matches this season.

“It’s a lot of everyone on the team sharing everything they know with everyone else, trying to get everyone to be at the higher level,” Kasey said

Having her sister already shooting for the Nanooks wasn’t a big factor in Kasey’s decision to sign a National Letter of Intent with the team. But it didn’t hurt.

“It was definitely a factor, but I wouldn’t say it was a huge part,” Kasey said. “The school had absolutely everything I wanted. The fact that she was here was just a bonus.”

Maddalena almost perfect

After 59 shots on Sunday, redshirt freshman Sagen Maddalena needed just one more 10 to become the second Nanook to record a perfect score in air rifle.

On her 60th and final shot, Maddalena was just outside the bullseye and finished with a 599, one shy of a perfect 600.

“I had 59 tens in a row. I’m like next match, let’s go 60 tens in a row,” Maddalena said. “That’s kind of how the thought process goes, I guess.”

The only Nanook to shoot a 600 was Matt Rawlings on Dec. 2, 2005, against the University of Texas El Paso in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The Groveland, California, native, who said she has shot a perfect score in practice before, knew right after she fired the final shot she had missed the bullseye.

“When you shoot a lot, you know where you’re shots go,” Maddalena said. “Could have followed through a little better on that one.”

Nebraska’s Rachel Martin was three points off a perfect score in air rifle. Martin was perfect until her 39th shot.