Meet Your Neighbor: Diane Heschel to join University of Akron's NCAA Rifle Team
PORT CLINTON - When Diane Heschel was 9 years old, she had the chance to fire a pellet gun at a day camp. That first incidental experience sparked a passion for marksmanship, and on May 9, the Oak Harbor High School senior signed a letter of intent to compete on the University of Akron’s Division One NCAA Rifle Team during a reception at Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center.
“I was at a Boy Scout Camp — it was a day camp — and they happened to teach the girls to use a pellet gun. I liked it so much that my parents brought me out here to Gary Anderson,” Diane said. “I really loved it here. I practiced a lot here.”
Diane joined a 4-H marksmanship team at Gary Anderson coached by Jack and Michelle Woods and continued with the sport after everyone else quit.
“The 4-H group disbanded, so I started coming by myself,” she said.
Diane is the daughter of Patrick and Sandy Heschel. They were so committed to their daughter’s success that they transformed their basement into a gun range.
“Our neighbor, Bob Geiner, actually built electronic targets for her,” Patrick said.
In addition to the Woods, Diane was trained by North Competition Coordinator Catherine Green and award-winning marksman Greg Drown. At the signing ceremony, Sandy thanked each of them for the impact they had on her.
Michelle said she noticed when Diane’s dedication to the sport shifted, and she was on her way to becoming a champion marksman.
“At some point, she made a decision that she wanted to continue. Diane started competing and started getting better, and she started liking it more,” Michelle said. “Only a few will take it that far. At that point, it’s all about them. There was a point we saw Diane gain confidence and carry herself differently. The sport is mostly mental, and she went to the next level.”
Heschel to compete in air rifle, small bore competitions
Green said Diane will compete in air rifle and small bore competitions on the University of Akron Rifle Team. Athletes are scored individually and as a group.
“Teammates are great because iron sharpens iron. I want my teammate to beat me, and I want to beat her at the same time,” Green said. “It’s such a small community that you’re in the trenches together.”
It was that combination of competition and camaraderie that attracted Diane to the sport.
“I just like the challenge. There is this mindset that I have to be in to be able to perform well,” she said. “I like the atmosphere, and I like the people.”
Heschel had three colleges offer marksmanship scholarships
Diane has been working toward a marksmanship scholarship since she was a freshman. She said there are only about 20 colleges that offer marksmanship scholarships, so the competition is steep. She received invitations to join rifle teams from three colleges, but in the end, she chose the University of Akron.
“Ever since I started shooting, I always went to Akron for different matches. I just like it. It felt like the right place,” she said.
Among the large crowd who attended Diane’s signing reception at Gary Anderson was Cathy Bergman, Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District's director of administrative services. She said Diane is the first-ever Oak Harbor High School student to earn a scholarship for marksmanship sports.
“This is quite an honor. It’s very exciting for the school district,” Bergman said.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Meet Your Neighbor: Diane Heschel to join U of Akron's Rifle Team
