Bisercic makes most of time in Murray

Whether it is coincidence, fate or something else, whatever brought Katarina Bisercic to Murray State for the same rifle season that the University is hosting the NCAA rifle championships is something special. Bisercic alone is someone special.

The 21-year-old shooter is a junior at her university in Serbia, but she has been labeled a freshman for the duration of her time as a foreign exchange student at Murray.

Bisercic is on scholarship from an organization called World Learning, which selected Murray State for her based on her major (occupational safety and health) and hobbies (rifle).

Although Bisercic did not choose Murray State, she feels that it is a great fit for her time here. She said she favors many things about being in the U.S., including the education.

“I like the professors here, and I like the whole concept of teaching and everything – it’s so much different,” she said. “It’s not easier, but you learn more. I actually learned more from this semester and a half than I have the past two years.”

In addition to learning, she said shooting conditions are better in the U.S. Her rifle career in Serbia makes that hard to believe.

Bisercic has been a part of four different teams that each took first place in national competition. Her success followed her to Murray State.

Here, Bisercic has led the team with top finishes throughout the season, but she has had to make adjustments.

In Serbia, the rifle season is divided into two parts, with air rifle in the fall and winter and smallbore in the spring and summer. Additionally, women shoot 40 shots in Serbia, compared to 60-shot matches in the U.S.

Changes in education and shooting aren’t the only adjustments, though. Bisercic is also adjusting to a new culture.

“It’s so much different,” she said. “People are so much nicer. Everybody asks you ‘How are you, how’s your day?’ and are seeing me for the first time in my life. Back home, we are polite, but only toward the people that we know. You don’t do that.”

In addition to her time in Murray, Bisercic had the opportunity over Winter break to travel the country with many of World Learning’s other exchange students.

She said Chicago was her favorite city, and she said if she ever comes back to America, she wants to go there. As of now, though, she has no plans to come back to the states once her year is up.

 

“When I go back home I have to stay there for two years so that I can contribute to my society,” Bisercic said. “And of course so I can finish my degree there. But I can’t wait until I get back home because I miss my family so much. On the other hand, I know I’m going to miss it here.”

Bisercic is not alone in her love of rifle, as her family shoots as well. Both of her older sisters shoot, and her father is a national record holder for the large caliber in Serbia.

Although Bisercic was raised around the sport, she said she never felt pressure from her father or sisters to get into rifle.

“I started shooting when I was 12 years old,” she said. “I wanted to go into some sports, and because I was pretty much too old for any other sport, I decided to go shooting, and it turned out OK.”

She progressed quickly and started shooting internationally by the time she was 13.

Since Bisercic competed in the same division as her sisters, she often took advice and support from them. Even with her father’s great success in the sport, she has never seen him shoot in a competitive setting. He has also never seen her in a match.

“I’ve never watched my dad compete, actually, and he never watched me compete, because I always thought that there would be extra pressure if he came and watched me,” she said. “I never wanted him to come and see me shoot. I allowed him to come to my practices, but he’s never seen real competitions. He watches online of course, but never live on the range.”

The next big event for Bisercic is at Murray State when the Racers host the NCAA Rifle Championships for the ninth time March 14 and 15. Bisercic hopes that the Racers qualify to shoot on their home turf.

“This is our home range,” she said. “We practice here every day. We know every single step here. I think it’s going to be easier from that side, but also when you host the final tournament of the season, I guess it’s expected for us to have a little bit of pressure.”

Whether it is coincidence or fate, Head Coach Alan Lollar describes it as happy fit.

“I am really happy she’s here,” Lollar said. “She came in and immediately became a part of our team. She’s a good teammate and a good person. We’re just looking forward to a good finish.”

 

Story by Mallory Tucker, Staff writer