Rifle: WVU Defeats Reigning GARC Champion Army
October 18, 2008 05:07 PM | General
Oct. 18, 2008
| West Virginia 4659, Ole Miss 4616 Tronsrue Markmanship Center West Point, N.Y. |
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Match Results |
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| Stat Comparison | ||||||||
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| Air Rifle | 2346 | 2326 | ||||||
| Small Bore | 2313 | 2290 | ||||||
| Aggregate | 4659 | 4616 | ||||||
| Top WVU Shooters | ||||||||
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WEST POINT, N.Y. – Backing up its No. 2 selection in the 2008-09 GARC Preseason Poll, the West Virginia University rifle team opened conference play and defeated reigning champion, Army, 4659-4616, today at Tronsrue Marksmanship Center in West Point, N.Y.
The Mountaineers (3-0 overall, 1-0 GARC) won their third-straight match of the young season on the strength of five school records – including a program-best 4659 aggregate score - and four personal bests. The squad out-shot Army 2346-2326 in air rifle, a school-record score, and 2313-2290 in smallbore. The victory snapped the Mountaineers’ three-match losing streak to the Black Knights.
“Today was definitely a great win,” says Head Coach Jon Hammond. “We had an overall good day, but I’m still looking for improvement all around.”
Sophomore Smallbore All-American Andy Lamson led WVU to victory with a school-record combined score 1171. The Colchester, Vt., native improved on the previous mark, set last season by classmate and fellow Smallbore All-American Brandi Eskew, by one point.
Lamson shot a school-record and personal-best 591 air rifle, matching junior and Air Rifle All-American Bryant Wallizer’s mark from two weeks ago, and 580 smallbore.
“Andy has had a great start this season,” Hammond says. “Hopefully he can continue shooting well as the year progresses.”
Sophomore Tommy Santelli, a 2008 Smallbore All-American, shot a personal-best 586 air rifle for the second time this season, while freshman Justin Pentz bested his smallbore high-mark by five points (578).
Freshman Michael Kulbacki set his second school record and became the fourth Mountaineer in two years to shoot 200 prone. Santelli, Pentz and sophomore Kyle Smith also hold the record. Kulbacki’s 582 smallbore score is a personal best.
WVU’s aggregate school-record score 4659 trumps the previous mark (4647) by 12 points. Lamson (591 air, 580 smallbore), Santelli (586 air, 576 smallbore), Kulbacki (580 air), Eskew (579 smallbore), Smith (578 smallbore) and Wallizer (589 air) contributed to the record.
The Mountaineers continue their two-match road trip tomorrow, Oct. 19, as they face Ole Miss at the Tronsrue Marksmanship Center in West Point, N.Y. Competition begins at 8 a.m.
