Quincy Adamo's only previous experience shooting at targets was with a crossbow.

Valerie Shaindlin's only time aiming and shooting was playing laser tag.

Adamo and Shaindlin are among 16 members on the inaugural Waldorf School air riflery team, which took care of a couple of firsts this past week.

The team gathered for the first time Monday, held its first practice Friday and competed in its first meet the following day at Saint Louis School.

The Waves boys and girls teams both lost to Kamehameha, but coach James McCarter was very pleased.

"It was amazing I would have to say; truly unbelievable," he said.

Waldorf's top shooter so far is Shaindlin, according to McCarter. She was the Waves' top scorer Saturday and yesterday against Sacred Hearts.

"She's putting it where she wants to. With a little more practice she'll be really good," he said.

Shooters fired at targets 10 meters away from the standing, kneeling and prone positions.

McCarter would seem to be the right man for the job. He is a marksman, who spent 22 years in the military.

"I have many years of being involved with rifle ranges and with shooting," said McCarter, who is from Houston. "It's a nice thing to be able to share with the students something that is a part of my background."

McCarter also is the athletic director, and teaches journalism, photography and physical education at the school.

THINK SMALL

Waldorf, in Kahala, has 76 high school students, according to McCarter.

Since its enrollment is small, Waldorf combines with other Interscholastic League of Honolulu schools in football, soccer, softball, volleyball and water polo.

Previously, the only team sports carrying the "Waldorf banner" were golf and sailing, according to McCarter.

Talk of forming an air riflery team began last spring because the students wanted another sport "we can call our own," according to McCarter.

He added a small turnout would have forced Waldorf to combine with another school, but that wasn't a problem after 16 signed up.

Only eight team members — four boys and four girls — are necessary to form a full team.

"We were able to have more than enough to form our own team," McCarter said.

The Waldorf team members already were good friends before joining the team.

"It's really fun because all the teammates are really close," said Shaindlin, a senior. "We're really good friends. Since our school is so small we already knew each other."

FIRST SHOTS

At their first practice, which was held at Academy of the Pacific in 'Alewa Heights, the 16 team members drove from their Kahala campus to take their first shots.

"It was great," said Adamo, a senior. "I was a little shaky. I actually got a little shakier after the first time, but I got a bull's-eye my first time. After that it went down hill."

Added freshman Aidan Kozlovich: "I didn't hit the target the first few times. But a few times after that, I started hitting black and you get more excited and more into it. You learn from your mistakes."

Waldorf will build a riflery range on its campus later this season, McCarter said.

There isn't a lot of extra space on campus, but McCarter said that won't be a problem.

"The beauty of air riflery is you only need 10 meters to work with," he said.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.