Rifle: WVU Shoots Past Ohio State
October 17, 2009 04:57 PM | General
October 17, 2009
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| Andy Lamson |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Junior Andy Lamson's career day pushed the West Virginia University rifle team past Ohio State, 4666-4538, today in Columbus, Ohio.
The Mountaineers (3-0, 1-0 GARC) continued their season-opening winning ways against the Buckeyes, earning the smallbore and air rifle wins with respective 2312-2243 and 2354-2295 scores. The team has yet to lose a discipline competition this season. Additionally, WVU's winning team score matches its second-best score of the 2008-09 season; the Mountaineers shot a nation-best 4677 last year.
"We had a good day today, though it still doesn't feel like we are where we want to be as a team," fourth-year coach Jon Hammond says. "I'm happy with our results, but I know that we can build on this and keep improving."
Lamson, a Colchester, Vt., native, finished first overall with a school-record score of 1177. The Academic All-American also finished first in air rifle (594) and smallbore (583). Both winning scores are personal bests.
Lamson was especially strong in air rifle today, shooting 100, 99, 100 and 100 in his first four strings for a fast start. From there, the NRA first team air rifle All-American cruised to the finish, shooting final strings of 96 and 99.
"Our results are always a total team effort, and Andy just happened to be the person that came through for us today," Hammond says. "He was definitely the star of the day. I knew that he was capable of his scores. Everything clicked for him today from the start, and I'm happy for him."
Redshirt senior Bryant Wallizer also had a strong day, shooting a combined score of 1171 and finishing second overall. The Buckeyes' Amanda Furrer paced OSU with a third-place showing of 1165.
WVU took the top three air rifle spots, with Wallizer finishing behind Lamson in second place with a score of 591, and sophomore Michael Kulbacki placing third with a score of 589. Wallizer, a Little Orleans, Md., native, recorded two strings of 100 on the way to his finish.
The Mountaineers also finished in the top three in smallbore, with junior Brandi Eskew finishing second with a score of 581, and Wallizer placing third with a personal-best score of 580. Eskew, a Petersburg, W.Va., native, also recorded a perfect prone score.
"Today was really good for Brandi. Hopefully this score will serve as a kick-start for her season," Hammond says. "Bryant's score is a result of the hard work he has put in over the last year."
With the win, the Mountaineers improve to 36-0 over the Buckeyes.
WVU concludes its road trip tomorrow at Akron. The match is set for an 8 a.m. start.
