Rifle: WVU Plays Host to NC State
January 16, 2010 11:34 AM | General
January 16, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – After an eight week break, the No. 1-ranked West Virginia University rifle team returns to action and plays host to NC State on Sunday, Jan. 17, at 8 a.m., at the WVU Rifle Range.
The Mountaineers (6-0, 3-0 GARC) have never dropped a match to the Wolfpack (0-6, 0-4 GARC) in their 10-match history.
WVU defeated its Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) foe twice at the WVU Rifle Range last season – 4677-4493 in the regular season, and 4639-4524 in an NCAA qualifying match. The Mountaineers’ regular-season score was a nation- and program-best mark at the time.
The Mountaineers concluded the first half of their 2009-10 season at an all-time high, defeating No. 2-ranked and GARC rival Kentucky, 4691-4642, on Nov. 21, at the WVU Rifle Range. Not only was the team score a program record, but it is also believed to be the highest collegiate aggregate total since the NCAA implemented a 60-shot course at the onset of the 2004-05 season.
“While the Kentucky result was fantastic, I think this team can draw a line under the first half of the season and move on,” says fourth-year coach Jon Hammond. “We peaked at the right time against the Wildcats. If we can repeat, that’s great, but if we are a bit below that score, that’s OK too.
“There will be a bit of rust this weekend, but we must work past that. The team needed that eight-week break, and everyone has returned refreshed and focused on this half of the year.”
WVU remains undefeated in both guns this season, and shot a team-record 2333 against the Wildcats. Through six matches, the Mountaineers are averaging 2351 air rifle, 2311.5 smallbore and 4662.5 aggregate.
Junior Andy Lamson paces the Mountaineers throughout the course with a 589.67 air rifle average, 579.5 smallbore average and 1169.17 combined score average.
Sunday’s match also marks the WVU debut of junior transfer Nicco Campriani. A six-year member of the Italian National Team, the Florence native joins the Mountaineers with a wealth of international experience, including a 12th-place air rifle finish at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The match between the Mountaineers and the Wolfpack is expected to play into the afternoon.
