Rifle: WVU Completes Season-Opening Sweep
October 11, 2009 08:09 PM | General
October 11, 2009
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| Justin Pentz |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University rifle team completed a season-opening sweep today, defeating Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) foe Nebraska, 4660-4634, in Lincoln, Neb.
The defending national champion Mountaineers' final score is better than all but two of WVU's scores from one season ago, when the team shot 4666 twice and a nation-best 4677 once. Additionally, the Mountaineers showed improvement from their season-opening win over Air Force yesterday, when they trumped the Falcons, 4655-4587.
WVU was successful in both guns today, defeating the Cornhuskers in smallbore, 2314-2308, and air rifle, 2346-2326.
"This was a solid team performance today. Overall, we had a good weekend, but we know there is still progress to make," fourth-year coach Jon Hammond says. "These two wins give us a good base to build on, and hopefully we can improve as we continue to practice."
Juniors Andy Lamson and Kyle Smith finished with match-best 1168 combined scores. Sophomore Michael Kulbacki finished behind the pair with an aggregate score of 1164, while junior Tommy Santelli shot 1163.
Nebraska's Chrstine Costello paced the Cornhuskers with a combined score of 1160.
The Mountaineers' dominance in air rifle is evident early this season, as five WVU shooters finished ahead of the pack for the second-straight day.
Sophomore Justin Pentz and Smith finished first and second with respective personal-best scores of 589 and 588. Both DuBois, Pa., natives shot one string of 100. Pentz finished the day with strings of 96, 100, 99, 98, 97 and 99, while Smith shot strings of 97, 99, 97, 98, 100 and 97.
"Both Justin and Kyle had a good, solid day and can each build on today's performances," Hammond says.
Redshirt senior Bryant Wallizer, Lamson and Kulbacki all tied for third place with scores of 587.
Lamson became the first Mountaineer to win a smallbore competition this season, as the Colchester, Vt., native shot 581, one short of his personal-best mark. Smith finished second with a score of 580. Additionally, for the second-consecutive day, Smith was the only Mountaineer to record a school record as he shot 199 kneeling. Smith first shot the record in last season's victory over Ole Miss.
Nebraska's Katie Kostal and Costello tied Smith for second place.
The win gives the Mountaineers (2-0, 1-0 GARC) the 4-3 edge in their series with the Cornhuskers. WVU defeated Nebraska at home last season, 4650-4622.
WVU stays on the road next weekend, with matches at Ohio State on Oct. 17 and at Akron on Oct. 18. Both contests are set to begin at 8 a.m. ET.
