Rifle: WVU Edges TCU, Improves to 5-0
October 25, 2008 06:46 PM | General
October 25, 2008
| TCU 4626, West Virginia 4666 WVU Rifle Range Morgantown, W.Va. |
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Match Results |
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| Stat Comparison | ||||||||
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| Air Rifle | 2329 | 2352 | ||||||
| Small Bore | 2297 | 2314 | ||||||
| Aggregate | 4626 | 4666 | ||||||
| Top WVU Shooters | ||||||||
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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Facing adversity on several levels, the West Virginia University rifle team refused to slip and improved to 5-0 on the season with a strong 4666-4626 victory over TCU on Oct. 25 at the WVU Rifle Range.
The Mountaineers (5-0 overall, 2-0 GARC) again dominated in both air rifle and smallbore, out shooting the Horned Frogs 2352-2329 and 2314-2297, respectively. WVU has yet to fall this season to an opponent in either discipline.
The squad’s victory was fueled by six school records and eight personal bests, including a program-best team air rifle score (2352) and team aggregate score (4666). Both records were only one week old, as each was set in the victory at Army on Oct. 18.
“Overall, this was a great result for us,” says Head Coach Jon Hammond. “Our air rifle scores were very strong today, and that definitely helped. Today’s scores show that everything we’ve been working on this season is going in the right direction.”
Sophomore Tommy Santelli and freshman Michael Kulbacki each performed on exceptional levels, setting a combined two school records and five personal bests.
Kulbacki trounced the previous air rifle record, adding five points for a 596 score. The mark is a personal best for the DuBois, Pa., native, who has been battling a cold this week. Combined with his smallbore score of 574, the newcomer finished the day with a personal-best aggregate score 1170.
“Mike’s air rifle score is fantastic and a massive personal best,” Hammond says. “Hopefully this was a breakthrough score for him. He shot great, especially for not feeling too well today.”
Sophomore Andy Lamson battled Kulbacki for the air rifle record, bouncing back from an slightly-off smallbore relay (570) to shoot 592 in air rifle.
Santelli proved his strength in both disciplines, shooting personal bests in air rifle (589) and smallbore (583) for a school-record aggregate score of 1172. The Prosperity, Pa., native lost only three points in his final four air rifle strings (100, 98, 99, 100) after shooting 96 in each of the first two rounds.
Sophomore Brandi Eskew accounted for the final school record of the day, as she became the fourth Mountaineer this season to shoot 200 prone. The Petersburg, W.Va., native finished with a personal-best 585 in smallbore.
Classmate Ashley Zultanky also had an exceptionally strong smallbore day, besting her personal-best score with a 561 finish.
The Mountaineers face a three week break from competition before traveling to Lexington, Ky., for two GARC matches. WVU meets conference preseason favorite Kentucky on Nov. 15 and Memphis on Nov. 16. Both matches begin at 8 a.m.
“Everyone dealt with a little adversity today and fought back strong,” Hammond says. “Hopefully we can use the momentum from today and move forward and give Kentucky a good match.”
WVU rifle next hosts the Mountaineer Open on Nov. 1-2 at the WVU Rifle Range. Each day is set to begin at 8 a.m.
