From her first perfect 10 in a basement range to breaking collegiate records and competing on the international stage, Natalia Siek’s shooting journey has been fueled by an unshakable belief in herself. Now a senior on the University of Akron rifle team, she continues to make her mark in air rifle and smallbore with performances that reflect both technical mastery and personal style. In this edition of Range Bag, Natalia shares the gear she trusts, the moments that shaped her path into competitive shooting and the mindset that keeps her pushing for consistency at the highest level.
What are your first memories of handling a firearm?
I first picked up a firearm, an air gun, in Mexico when I was five years old at a resort. It was a little hut where people went to play games and compete with each other for fun. Since I was so young and it was just for fun, I did it because it looked intriguing when my dad introduced me to it. A few years later, when I was about 10 years old, I kept asking if we could buy an air rifle to shoot around the house for fun. My dad let me shoot in the basement with a makeshift range that he made. When he let me shoot my first shot, it happened to be a 10. After which, he then proceeded to take the gun away and lock it up. Fast forward a couple more years to when I was 16. My dad surprised me one day when I wasn’t feeling well and took me to a local shooting range. When I heard that I could start shooting and turn it into a sport, my smile went from ear to ear because, in that moment, I knew it was meant to be for me.
Tell us how you began in competitive shooting?
My first competition was in 2018, five months after I first started shooting, and it was prone, which is the only discipline I shot for a while. I got the drive to start competing when I was told there wasn’t a chance for me to enter a competition within the first year and a half that I started shooting. I took that as a challenge and wanted to prove I could do it.
Please share with us some of your major shooting accomplishments.
As a high school junior, I dreamed of becoming a Division I athlete, a goal that came true when I signed with the University of Akron to compete on its rifle team. The coaches believed in me from the start, and that belief pushed me to believe in myself at a higher level. One of my proudest accomplishments came early in the 2025–2026 season, when I shot the school record in kneeling and overall smallbore during our very first match. Just a few matches later, I went on to break my own smallbore record and set a new aggregate record against Ohio State.
Beyond collegiate competition, I also had the opportunity to travel internationally and compete at the Polish Kaliber Open in Poland. There, I qualified for the finals and placed fifth in my first-ever international final, competing against multiple highly accomplished international athletes. That experience not only challenged me as a shooter, but confirmed that I can perform at a high level on a global stage.
What firearms and other gear do you use for competition?
I shoot my wonderful Walther KK500 smallbore and a Walther LG400 Monotec air rifle.
My favorite parts of both my guns are the red accents (courtesy of my dad’s favorite color). They add a sharp, distinctive look that really reflects my personality. On my air rifle specifically, I also love my small, blue, spiky touch-point trigger, which not only stands out visually, but feels precise and comfortable every time I shoot.
Tell us about your range bag and what you carry in it besides your firearms?
I use a black Ogio bag with a camo bandana and my name tag attached, which makes it easy to recognize wherever I’m traveling or competing. One of my favorite things about it is how well it’s designed; there are so many compartments that I can organize all my shooting gear efficiently. This helps me stay focused and makes it almost impossible to lose anything. I’m very intentional about protecting my equipment, so I always keep an AirTag in both my bag and my gun case. That way, if I’m flying and anything gets delayed or misplaced, I have peace of mind knowing I can track my gear.
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time, I love to travel and explore new places. Experiencing different cultures and seeing more of the world is something I truly value. I travel to California most often, where I enjoy spending time at the beach, playing beach volleyball and soaking up the sun. Outside of travel, I also enjoy going to truck shows, riding quads on fun trails and going fishing, which let me enjoy the outdoors in different ways.
What would you tell someone interested in finding out more about your sport?
I would tell them to just do it. There truly is no feeling quite like shooting and feeling confident in what you’re doing. Knowing that you can consistently hit the center of a target is incredibly rewarding, and it’s such a unique skill that not many people get to experience. While the sport may look cool from the outside, becoming good at rifle takes a significant amount of time, discipline and dedication. Anyone can hit a 10 every now and then, but what really matters is consistency, and the work, mindset, and effort it takes to achieve that level over and over again.
Any tips for the new shooter?
Don’t be afraid of change. Don’t be afraid of trying new things in your position. You have to be uncomfortable to start feeling comfortable in your positions. Every shooter is different, and the goal is to build a position that fits you. Let the gun work for you, not the other way around.
Follow Natalia Siek on Instagram: @nat__86
Most Popular
