USPSA Handgun Nationals – Getting To Know Your Top 8 – Debbie Keehart, 6th Place Limited

Courtesy of our friends at the Women of USPSA blog.

WoUSPSA: Congratulations on your TOP 8 finish at the S&W USPSA Limited National Championships!  What did you think of the stages at this year’s Nationals?  Did you have a favorite?

Debbie: I found them to be interesting and most challenging!  I liked several.  The draw bridge was pretty cool!

WoUSPSA: What do you think of the range/match location?

Debbie: Love having it in Vegas but the ricochets were way scary!

WoUSPSA: There were a lot of zingers flying around weren’t there?  How would you describe your performance? Were you happy with your match?

Debbie: Eeesh, do I have to answer this?  I struggled this year getting my mental game to make contact with the physical game.  I had been doing well in practice so I was not too happy with my match performance this time around.

WoUSPSA: Sorry to hear that but you’ve also had a lot of changes this year.  You’re flying new colors and  have also managed to hang on to your purple accessories!  Have you enjoyed being a part of the Cameron’s Custom Guns Team with Lisa Munson?

Debbie: Well, it has been a color challenge for me this year trying to blend my favorite color with my sponsor color. Not sure what direction I will take it for next season!  I love, love, love being part of the Cameron’s Team.  I have a group of people supporting me which is very powerful and comforting.  I couldn’t be happier with my new gun!  Finally, having Lisa as an official teammate is chocolate icing on the cake!

WoUSPSA: You guys make a great team.  You are a veteran competitor at the USPSA Nationals.  Despite your experience, do you get nervous for the Nationals and if so what do you do to help calm your nerves?

Debbie: I absolutely get nervous before every Nationals.  I get nervous at our club match right before Nationals.  Getting the first stage behind me at Nationals calms my nerves.  If anyone knows how to accomplish this sooner…do share (LOL)!

WoUSPSA: Did you learn anything about yourself as a competitor?

Debbie: Wow, that is a loaded question for me.  As a competitor you deal with performing for yourself, performing for a team,and performing for an audience.  There are many situations you learn to work through and you learn how important your actions are and all those affected by them.

WoUSPSA: You have the opportunity to shoot some well attended and highly acclaimed local matches at Rio Salado Desert Sportsman.  How does being a member of an active club help you prepare for major matches?

Debbie: At Rio there is no such thing as being a big fish in a little pond.  We’ve got some of the biggest fish in our pond, so I know what my competition is going to be like at bigger matches.  Rio also designs some of the most challenging stages and they have the most intense swingers I’ve ever seen.  It’s not too often that I see a stage more challenging than those in my own backyard!  That alone is good preparation for major matches!

WoUSPSA: It is!  As a Top 8 contender, do you feel you should always have the choice to shoot with whomever you like?    What are the pros and cons of shooting with another squad vs. the Ladies?

Debbie: I believe it is important for the top shooters to be squaded with the top shooters.  Our media guys need to photograph the ladies which is very difficult if we are not all on the same squads.  I believe our shooting conditions should be as equal as possible for all of us therefore, if we are all on the same squad, we have the same weather conditions, match pressure, and equal support of one another!

WoUSPSA: Was this your last major match of the year or do you still have more competitions on your schedule?

Debbie: I will be shooting Area 2!  My favorite!

WoUSPSA:  With the match season rather lengthy, how do you typically unwind after all the matches have settled down?

Debbie: I cut back on practice and local matches to do some weekend getaways.  I will also pick up a shotgun and rifle and play with those a little. Never stop shooting completely though….I’d go through withdrawls!

WoUSPSA: Gotta love getting trigger time with the long guns.  What are your long-term competitive shooting goals?

Debbie: I think I’ve already been through the “long-term” at this point (lol), but I do continue to set short term goals to continue my presence in the shooting community, improve my skills each year and increase my coaching opportunities!  I love sharing my knowledge and experience with other lady shooters!

WoUSPSA: You must be so proud to be able to teach women how to become better shooters.  If you weren’t a competitive shooter, what do you think you would be doing?

Debbie: Probably some sort of competitive dancing!  In purple costumes of course! : )

WoUSPSA: Of course!  What kind of reactions have you had when you tell people that your hobby is competitive shooting?

Debbie: When I lived in California.  People would say, “Wow, really?!  That’s cool!”, then run away.  In Arizona they say, “Wow, really?! That’s cool – I’ve always wanted to try that!”    But anywhere I am, people are usually surprised and say that they would never guess by looking at me because of the little girlie girl I appear to be.

WoUSPSA: We think that women who shoot are SUPER cool!  Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Debbie!  Congratulations once again on your Top 8 finish!

Take a look at some of Debbie’s stage runs at the Limited Nationals …