Rifle: Season Highs Recorded in Loss
January 16, 2006 08:41 PM | General
By Justin Zackal for MSNsportsNET.com
January 16, 2006
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PALMYRA, Pa. – The West Virginia University rifle team shot a season-high aggregate score in its 4653-4596 loss against Nebraska on Monday in Great America Rifle Conference action held at a neutral site as part of the Palmyra Invitational Rifle Match.
The Mountaineers' (1-6, 1-4 GARC) season-high team score included their best air rifle score of the season as they fired a 2307. West Virginia also shot a 2289 in smallbore.
Nebraska (8-0, 4-0 GARC), fresh off a win over defending national champion Army on Saturday, captured both disciplines against WVU with scores of 2326 and 2327 in air rifle and smallbore, respectively.
West Virginia’s new top aggregate eclipses its mark of 4590 set in its lone win of the season at home against North Carolina State on Nov. 13. The score also helps in qualifying for nationals, as the top three scores from three different ranges are used in determining teams’ postseason fate.
“I’m glad to see we are posting higher scores,” said WVU head coach Marsha Beasley. “Everyone is excited about the second half of the season and us doing well on the road is a big step.”
Sophomore Amy Smith was catalyst in WVU’s air rifle score as she fired a personal-best 582, good for second place behind Nebraska’s Andrea Franzen who shot a 588.
Junior Brian Launer also carded a high score for West Virginia as his 581 air rifle sum tied for third place.
Sophomore Lafe Kunkel fired a team-high 579 in the smallbore competition as he and Launer (578) placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Kristina Fehlings took home top honors for Nebraska in smallbore with a 585.
Another WVU shooter registering a personal best was freshman Paul Miller firing a 574 as a non-counter in air rifle.
The Mountaineers step out of conference action for a triangular meet at Akron with Texas Christian on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m.
