Naperville siblings earn distinction for high-power rifle shooting

While Naperville college student Lindsey Mazurski was working three jobs this summer, she was competing in high-power rifle matches on weekends and shooting Tuesday evenings with a league that meets in Bonfield, near Kankakee.

"I work seven days a week. It's pretty much work and shooting for me," said the 22-year-old architecture student at Ohio State University, shortly before she returned to school to finish her senior year.

The hard work paid off for Mazurski. In August, she became one of fewer than 100 women ever to earn the "Distinguished Rifleman Badge" in the Civilian Marksmanship Program national competition in Camp Perry, Ohio.

"You earn this once in your life," she said.

Lindsey was following in the footsteps of her older brother, Paul, who earned the same badge in 2005. Neither of the Mazurski siblings has any intention of resting on their laurels.

"I'm always chasing his scores," Lindsey said. "It's hard for him to brag on himself, but he's one of the best out there."

Paul, 24, who is ranked among the top 100 nationwide in the Civilian Marksmanship Program, works six days a week as a flight instructor at Lewis University in Romeoville while completing a master's degree in business administration. His busy schedule has cut into his shooting practice, he said, but it didn't stop him from participating in the CMP competition in Ohio for the ninth year in the row.

"I'm a pretty competitive person," he said. "Even if you don't have any competition, your competition is really yourself. You always try to get better every time."

Shooting togetherBut if a competitive nature launched Paul Mazurski into national competition, it's the bonds he has with his sister and father and the camaraderie with other shooters that keep him going to matches, he said. Former Marine Ted Mazurski taught his son to shoot at an early age."Ever since I can remember, I have been shooting," Paul said. "It's just something we do together."He earned his shotgun and rifle merit badges in Boy Scouts, then joined Boy Scout Venture Crew 33, which concentrates on small-bore rifles. Paul's ability caught the eye of marksmen who encouraged him to try high-power shooting. He never looked back."High-power is definitely my favorite and the one where I excel," he said.Seeing his son's interest, Ted Mazurski served as chairman of the Illinois Junior High Power Program for five years. Lindsey went to matches with her father and brother on weekends, then started shooting five years ago."I ended up falling in love with it, too," she said.Ted Mazurski's pride in his children couldn't be more obvious. To become a distinguished rifleman, they had to earn 30 points by shooting in a limited number of "excellence in competition" matches that are held each year."'Distinguished' is quite an honor in the shooting community," Ted Mazurski said. "Most people in their lifetime never earn any points at all, and of the people who earn points, the majority never become distinguished."Ted Mazurski himself has earned six points toward the distinguished rifleman designation, but he said he wasn't concentrating much on his own shooting."Now both the kids are distinguished, I'm starting to work on my points," he said.Civilian shooters compete alongside military marksmen in the CMP national matches. Since the program began in 1884, slightly more than 2,000 have earned the rifleman badge."I was the 2,005th person ever to go distinguished, and there's been less than 100 women to do it," Lindsey said.She earned a silver for coming in the top 5 percent of the roughly 1,200 competing.Konrad Powers, chairman of the High Power Rifle Committee for the Illinois State Rifle Association, said many young people shoot, but few stick with it the way the Mazurski siblings have."It is uncommon to see young shooters get to the level they have," he said. "Not only do they have the ability to shoot well, on a personal level, they're organized and committed to excel in whatever they are doing."Claude Heale, chairman of the Illinois State Rifle Association Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League that meets in Bonfield, said Ted Mazurski's coaching has played a large role in his children's success."Paul is like a shooting prodigy. Lindsey is right behind him," he said. "It takes a good coach to bring that out."Shooting disciplinePaul Mazurski said shooting has taught him he can attain personal goals through talent and hard work."That definitely has help me succeed in other areas of my life," said the 2004 Naperville North High School graduate.Lindsey, a 2007 Naperville North graduate, said participating in shooting matches means spending long days on the range in the hot sun. Safety and proper technique are emphasized. Each shot must take into account the weather conditions at the time, including sun, rain and wind."The problem most shooters have is they take a shot they shouldn't take," Paul said. "It's really self-control to wait for the exact, perfect shot."Some shots are taken at 600 yards, the length of six football fields, Ted Mazurski said. The target is the size of a dinner plate.Both Mazurski siblings own AR-15 rifles. A good rifle costs $1,500 and up, and about $2,500 worth of other equipment is required to compete, Paul said."It's definitely an expensive sport," he said.Prize money is small, but that is not the point for the Mazurskis."What you want to win is recognition from other shooters that you are the best," Lindsey said.Both Mazurski siblings plan to continue to shoot, but they say it's not their whole lives. Paul wants to become a commercial or corporate pilot, and plans to pursue his love of travel."My biggest love is for traveling and that's why I'm drawn to aviation," he said.Lindsey may pursue a master's degree after she graduates with a degree in architecture and minors in education and in city and regional planning. Both siblings said while their hobby may seem a bit unusual, friends typically show a positive interest."People are amazed it's available for anybody. A lot of people are surprised I'm a girl who does this," Lindsey said. "Everybody who I've seen try it has loved it," Paul said.bull; Do you know someone with an unusual job or hobby? Let us know at sdibble@dailyherald.com, (630) 955-3532 or 4300 Commerce Court, Lisle, 60532.False15002000Lindsey and her father, Ted Mazurski, take a moment together on the range. A former Marine, Ted has served as a shooting coach for both his son and daughter.Courtesy of Ted MazurskiFalse