Rifle: Marksmen Set Record in First Loss
January 28, 2003 06:14 PM | General
January 28, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University rifle team (8-1) suffered its first loss of the season this afternoon to defending national champion Alaska-Fairbanks (8-0), 6318-6232.
West Virginia and Alaska-Fairbanks recorded the highest combined aggregate team score in NCAA history (12550) breaking the mark of 12509 the two schools set in last year's match. The Nanooks captured the smallbore and air rifle competitions, 4757-4681 and 1561-1551, respectively.
In the loss, the Mountaineers fired the third highest team score in school history (6232), while Alaska-Fairbanks recorded the highest smallbore team score in NCAA history (4757).
In smallbore, the Mountaineers recorded a season high team score of 4681. Nicole Allaire led WVU with a 1180 followed by Ryan Baum (1158), Jon Hammond (1169) and Wade Tyner (1174). The Nanooks were led by 2001-02 NCAA smallbore champion and 2002 World Cup Champion Matt Emmons who shot a 1194.
In air rifle, the WVU team of Allaire (393), Eric Hensil (385), Brian Launer (390) and Gary Longwell (383) fired a season high team score of 1551. Alaska-Fairbanks was led by Per Sandberg who fired a 394.
"I am very impressed with Alaska," said coach Marsha Beasley. "We recorded the third highest team score in WVU history and to see how far away we were from them says a lot."
The Mountaineers return to action on Saturday, Feb. 1, when they play host to Canisius at the WVU Rifle Range beginning at 8 a.m.
