Westview students on target with shooting skills

From the outside, there is nothing unusual about building A131 at Westview High School.

Except for the military posters identify the building as the home of the school’s Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC), most days it looks like any other classroom on campus.

But on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons it transforms into a five-lane shooting range in 15 minutes.

Desks are pushed aside, wood-mounted targets are secured to cabinets and windows are protected with carpet-covered boards.

A sliding room partition gives the school’s air riffle marksmanship team the 10 meters, or 33 feet, required for shooting practice.

“You can walk by here and you won’t even know we’re doing this,” said Lt. Col. John Theisen, the NJROTC’s commanding officer.

The team is a varsity sport, and is open to all Westview High students. The team competes in contests against other ROTC units, as well as non-ROTC marksmanship clubs.

It currently has 13 students, with all but two NJROTC cadets.

Theisen said it took some convincing for school officials and the school district to allow him to start the marksmanship program in 2004. He attributes the struggle to the “overreaction” of people when it comes to firearms in schools.

The team’s logo, featuring a pumped-up version of the school’s wolverine mascot with a rifle in hand, was controversial as well, Theisen said.

The creation of the NJROTC also caused some concern, with people accusing the program of trying to recruit kids for military service, Theisen said.

“Everything we do alarms people,” he said, adding that the citizenship program only provides recruitment information to those requesting it.

Dawn Kasten, who became Westview’s principal in July, said the school is proud of its NJROTC program, which also has academic, athletic and other programs such as color guard and drill team.

“They’re teaching these kids character and work ethic and confidence,” she said.

Westview’s is the only ROTC program in the Poway Unified School District. Associate Superintendent Kevin Skelly added that the NJROTC draws some students to Westview.

Theisen said that for the NJROTC, the rifles are no different than bats, footballs and other equipment used for school sports.

While students are taught to call them “rifles” or “equipment,” the word “weapons” is verboten.

The rifles are stored under lock and key in a side room armory. Students are not allowed to shoot unsupervised.

Before they can even touch one of the rifles, the students have to pass a written test, which includes questions about safe rifle handling and shooting techniques.

“Our emphasis is, obviously, on respect for the equipment and safety,” Theisen said, adding that marksmanship instills confidence, respect and discipline.

The team uses high-quality equipment, bought by a $6,200 grant from the National Rifle Association Foundation’s (NRA) Grant Program, which supports firearm-related public interest activities.

The grant allowed Theisen to buy 10 Daisy Avanti Valiant XS40 .177 caliber air rifles, valued at $315 each. Spotting scopes with stands, mats, cases and other items were also purchased with the grant.

“We couldn’t have done this without the NRA,” Theisen said.

Lance Martini, a criminologist with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, volunteers to be the shooting coach.

A high school marksmanship participant, Martini said it helps him give back to the community, just as those people who guided him through the sport as a teen.

“It’s my turn to return the favor,” he said. “When I started doing it I realized that I really enjoy giving back.”

His son, Garrett Martini, who started shooting at a young age, is also on the team.

A former wrestler, the Westview junior said marksmanship differs from other sports in that you can’t size up your opponent by sight alone.

“Good physical condition helps,” Martini said, “but 99 percent of it is mental.”

Sarah Bennison, a 17-year-old Westview senior, said she started shooting as something to do after school.

A NJROTC member since her freshman year who had never picked up a rifle before her first practice, Bennison was surprised to discover that she was a good shot.

In fact, Theisen said Bennison, along with the younger Martini, are among the best on the team.

“It’s very motivational,” Theisen said about her skill. “It reminded me that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.”