In May, Green County Rifle Club member Mike Aeberhard, 46, went to the Olympic Team Trials in Columbus, Ga. He was one of 40 people competing for one spot on the 2008 Summer Olympic team in the sport of small-bore rifle shooting.

Small-bore rifle competitors fire .22-caliber rifles, typically at a target 50 feet away indoors or 50 meters outdoors. The hits on the targets are measured for accuracy down to the size of a dot on an i, sometimes judged with a magnifier.

Aeberhard has been Wisconsin 's outdoor small-bore rifle champion three of the last four years and indoor champion six out of the last eight years and last year his indoor score set a state record.

A former mink farmer whose family got out of that business about 10 years ago, which gave him time to practice shooting. He still works on his family farm near Monticello, where he served on the village board and lives with his wife, Annette, and his three children. His day job is on the maintenance staff at the Overture Center in Madison.

Melanie Conklin: How did you end up at the Olympic trials?

Mike Aeberhard: Four or five years ago I got invited to go down to Georgia to shoot with the Army Marksmanship unit, which was probably the best thing I ever did because that 's when I really started to excel. They usually have about 20 people a year go down there for a training camp and I got invited.

MC:

How did you do at Olympic trials?

MA:

It was a great experience. I shot for three days and I shot a personal high all three days. I thought it was great for the biggest match of my life. I just wanted to place in the top half. Didn 't quite do it (came in 29th) but shooting a personal high is awesome.

MC:

And you 'll try again?

MA:

Oh yeah.

MC:

Earlier this year you competed at nationals and did well.

MA:

Third at nationals, out of 389 competitors I think. I really had the intention of winning. The week after I had a state match and I ended up shooting a total at the state match that would have won the national match.

MC:

Explain what you do at these competitions and your weekly leagues. You shoot in three positions?

MA:

It 's done prone, standing and kneeling. We get called up to the line, take our shots. Then afterward we drink a little homemade wine or beer and some gossip.

MC:

Like a bowling league but with guns. Where do you practice?

MA:

I shoot at my dad 's farm, I set up a range, and I 'm only 11 miles away from our range in Monroe. Our home range is in Darlington with league on Monday and Thursday.

MC:

How did you get into shooting?

MA:

My dad used to shoot competitions. And a dear friend of mine, Gary Kuebli, got me started awhile after high school. I was instantly hooked. Now in any free time I try to practice. Maybe one day I 'll grow out of this and get back to my old hunting and fishing stuff, but this is addicting.

MC:

Any best or worst moments from shooting that stick out for you?

MA:

I would say Bernie Wiegel from Darlington used to lead the pack for many years. He dominated. My friend coached me and told me to if I really wanted to improve I had to hang out with Bernie. I remember one year he shot two perfect scores in the same week, which meant he 'd shot three perfect scores (total over time) and I thought to myself, "Gosh, I 'd just love to do that ... I wonder if I 'm ever gonna get one. " Well, I finally did it and now I 've shot five of them in the past four years.

MC:

Is shooting a tension reliever for you?

MA:

It is -- it relaxes you. It 's like it 's business on the firing range. You have to focus and block everything out of your head -- I mean everything. It 's a lot of mental training.

MC:

Anything else to add?

MA:

My barber, Tom Eisch of Monroe, always said if I ever became "famous, " I should mention him.

Drinks With runs every other Sunday in Local.