Rifle: No. 1 WVU Welcomes NC State
February 13, 2009 01:59 PM | General
February 13, 2009
WVU Season Scores and Averages
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| Kyle Smith |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 1 West Virginia University rifle team welcomes No. 18 NC State on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 8 a.m., at the WVU Rifle Range. The match will serve as an NCAA qualifier for each squad.
The Mountaineers (10-1 overall, 5-1 GARC) return to the range after a two week hiatus. The squad last defeated Akron, 4666-4516, on Jan. 31.
WVU begins its postseason after earning its first national No. 1 rank in over a decade. The team, which owns a 4645.27 season average, overcame previous No. 1 Kentucky in the Feb. 9 poll. The Wildcats are the only squad to defeat the Mountaineers, having trumped them in Lexington, 4649-4639, on Nov. 15.
WVU and NC State met less than a month ago, as the Mountaineers toppled the Wolfpack, 4677-4493, in Morgantown on Jan. 18. WVU’s point total from that match is still a season-high amongst Division I teams – no other squad has shot 4670-plus this season.
Junior Bryant Wallizer continues to pace the Mountaineers in the air rifle, nabbing a personal-best 595 against the Zips. The Little Orleans, Md., native holds a 588.91 air rifle average.
Sophomore Tommy Santelli won the smallbore in the Akron match with 581 points. Classmate Kyle Smith holds a team best 579.91 smallbore average.
Fellow sophomore Andy Lamson leads all Mountaineers with an 1164.55 season aggregate average.
Following the NCAA qualifying match, the Mountaineers will travel to Oxford, Miss., for the GARC Championships on Feb. 28-March 1.
