Neesa DaCosta Ranked among Top Female Collegiate Shooters in the USA

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Neesa DaCosta became the fourth-ranked collegiate lady shooter at the end of the academic year after competing for Jacksonville University (JU) in Florida, USA, where she earned a full scholarship as a student-athlete in skeet shooting. Less than one point separated her from the third-place awardee, making this arguably the highest placement achieved by a Jamaican female shooter at the collegiate level in the United States.

DaCosta has compiled an impressive record of achievement both academically and in competitive shooting. After arriving at JU in 2020, she pursued a double major in Business Management and Marketing while competing in Skeet, Trap and Sporting Clays. Throughout her studies, she consistently ranked among the top students in her class while balancing the demands of collegiate athletics.

During her sophomore year, DaCosta was elected Board Secretary of the JU Shooting Team. As her athletic career progressed, she traveled throughout the United States representing the university in regional and national championships.

Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she was recognized as one of the top 25 students in the Davis College of Business & Technology at Jacksonville University, an honor reserved for students demonstrating exceptional academic performance, leadership and service.

DaCosta later pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) while expanding her leadership role within the shooting program. She was elevated to Chief of Staff and Chief Graduate Assistant of the JU Shooting Team, where she played a pivotal role in team operations, athlete development and the growth of the program.

After earning her National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) Level 1 Instructor Certification, DaCosta was appointed Assistant Coach of the JU Shooting Team. In that role, she assisted with coaching teammates and junior athletes from Jacksonville-area high schools, introducing young shooters to the sport while emphasizing proper shooting fundamentals, discipline and firearm safety.

She also volunteered extensively at the Jacksonville Clay Target Sports range, assisting female shooters from both the club and the wider community through a special initiative known as Shooting Stars.

For her contributions, DaCosta received the prestigious Head Coach’s Award every year from 2020 to 2026, recognizing her volunteer work, leadership, positive attitude and dedication to the success of the program.

A major turning point in her competitive career came in 2025 when Cole Fine Guns & Gunsmithing, one of the most respected Beretta dealers and supporters of competitive shooting in the United States, became her sponsor. The sponsorship enabled her to custom-fit her Beretta 694 ACS shotgun with a 30-inch barrel, a modification that immediately improved her performance and consistency across all disciplines.

At the 2025 Spring Southeast Collegiate Regional Championships, DaCosta captured the title of Women’s High Overall (HOA) Runner-Up, highlighted by multiple podium finishes, including:

• Women’s Skeet Champion – 1st Place
• Women’s HOA (Sporting Clays) – 2nd Place
• Women’s Doubles Trap – 4th Place

She continued her strong form at the 2025 ACUI Fall Lower East Coast Championships, earning:

• Women’s HOA – 3rd Place
• Women’s Sporting Clays – 3rd Place
• Women’s American Trap – 3rd Place

One of the crowning achievements of her collegiate career came during the 2025 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Florida State Championships, where she delivered an outstanding performance to secure the titles of:

• Florida Collegiate Lady Skeet Champion
• Florida Collegiate Lady Trap Champion
• Florida Collegiate Lady Sporting Clays Champion

The accomplishment earned her recognition as a rare Triple Crown Champion, bringing pride to Jacksonville University, the Jamaica Skeet Club and Jamaica as a whole.

In May of this year, DaCosta graduated from Jacksonville University with her MBA and was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate Business Scholar, once again demonstrating her ability to excel academically while competing at an elite level.

Her collegiate career soon reached another milestone when the National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA)-SCTP selected her to the prestigious All-American Team.

“This recognition of being on the NSSA SCTP All-America Team is a sign that I am moving in the right direction, and it’s encouragement that there are still bigger goals ahead for me. As a Jamaican athlete, I am really proud to represent my country at this level and show that we can compete among the best shooters in the United States. I really do hope that my journey inspires other young Jamaicans, especially juniors in clay shooting, to pursue the opportunities in the sport and keep striving for excellence,” said a beaming DaCosta.

DaCosta’s journey began at Hillel Academy, where she distinguished herself academically while developing a passion for shotgun shooting through her involvement with the Jamaica Skeet Club. Under the guidance of Khaleel Azan, she received the encouragement and technical instruction that laid the foundation for her competitive success.

She also credits David Dobson, MBA, Founder, Executive Director and Head Coach of the Jacksonville University Shooting Team, whose leadership and commitment have helped establish the university as one of the nation’s respected collegiate shotgun programs.

Today, DaCosta stands not only as a champion athlete and accomplished scholar, but also as a mentor, coach and role model for the next generation of shooters.

Related posts:

U17 Reggae Boyz Secure World Cup Spot with Win Over Canada 26th KPMG Squash league launched Runner-up Saints making steady progress in KPMG Squash League Sean Morris and Jodi Munn-Barrow Capture Constant Spring Golf Classic Titles Roye, Munn-Barrow Triumph at Easter Jamboree Golf Tournament Tina Clayton Leads Jamaican 1-2-3 Finish in Rabat