Rifle: Hammond Announces 2008 Signee
May 13, 2008 03:56 PM | General
May 13, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- West Virginia Head rifle Coach Jon Hammond has announced the signing of Michael Kulbacki to a letter of intent and grant-in aid for the 2008-09 academic year.
Kulbacki, a native of Dubois, Pa., who has been a member of the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team since 2006, has won eight individual national titles, and has been a member of 15 national championship winning teams.
He has shot a career-high of 591 in air rifle at the 2008 Junior Olympics, where he earned second place, and has shot a smallbore career high score of 1141 at Ft. Benning, Georgia in 2007. The incoming freshman also has the national record for 3P air rifle score of 596 set at the NRA Championships in 2007.
Kulbacki also has international shooting experience. He has shot in the Czech Republic in June 2007 where he won his first international medal in air rifle. He shot in Germany in January 2007, and will be returning to the Czech Republic June 2nd for a match.
“First of all, I would say that he is one of the top-rated recruits in the country, and we are delighted that he chose West Virginia”, comments Hammond. “His main accomplishments include that he is a member of the US National Development team, and has traveled to Europe to compete on several occasions.”
West Virginia had a successful 2007-08 season as the team took sixth place at the 2008 NCAA Championships on March 19. Senior Lafe Kunkel and freshman Brandi Eskew were named to the National Rifle Association (NRA) All-American first team. Freshmen Tommy Santelli and Kyle Smith both were named to the NRA All-American second team, while freshman Andrew Lamson earned honorable-mention honors. Hammond was honored as well, being named the 2008 NRA Distinguished College Coach.
Prior to the NCAA Championship, West Virginia finished third at the 2008 Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) championship with a team aggregate score of 4,626 on February 24. Hammond was named GARC Coach of the Year, after leading the squad to an 8-3 record this season.
Hammond, in his second year, has an overall record of 14-7 and has led the Mountaineers to its first back-to-back consecutive winning seasons since 2002-03.
