Szarenski to compete in Beijing Olympics for the United States
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Not only is Tennessee Tech an annual
contender for the NCAA Rifle Championship, but former Tech rifle
team members have been in contention for Olympic medals as
well.
In 1984, Tech Hall of Fame shooter Ed Etzel won a gold medal in Los
Angeles.
This year, Golden Eagle shooter Daryl Szarenski looks to add
another medal to Tech's tradition. Szarenski was a member of the
rifle team at Tech from 1987 to 1991, and is currently representing
the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Competing in the
50m Pistol event, Szarenski was a seven-time All-American while at
Tech in smallbore and air rifle.
Since his time at Tennessee Tech, he has won several awards for his
abilities on the range. In 1993, he was the silver medalist in the
air pistol at the National Championships while taking home gold in
the air pistol and silver in the free pistol at the U.S. Olympic
Festival. Szarenski went on to win several other medals in key
Olympic preparation competitions and world championships, but it
was in 2000 that he made his Olympic debut.
He finished 25th in the 50m Free Pistol and spent the next four
years training to improve and make a stronger run in Athens. While
in Greece, he improved and was a member of the men's air pistol and
free pistol teams, taking home 13th and 15th place,
respectively.
This year he finished second while at the Olympic trials in the
free pistol to claim his current spot and trip to Beijing.
Before his Olympics success, Szarenski honed his skills along with
teammates such as Tanya Brown, Frank Foss and Angela St. Onge on
the Golden Eagle squad. Manny Goodman, another teammate of
Szarenski for his first three years, returned as the Tech coach for
Szarenski's final season.
Tech's 2008 rifle team begins the season Oct. 4 when it travels to
Jacksonville State for a shoulder-to-shoulder meet beginning at 8
a.m.
