Rifle: No. 2 WVU Welcomes No. 1 Alaska-Fairbanks
January 20, 2010 01:25 PM | General
January 20, 2010
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| Nicco Campriani |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 2-ranked West Virginia University rifle team plays host to top-ranked Alaska-Fairbanks on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 8 a.m. at the WVU Rifle Range.
The match pits two of the nation’s last remaining undefeated squads against each other. The Mountaineers, riding a 13-match win streak, have opened the defense of their 14th NCAA Championship at 7-0, including a 4-0 showing against Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) opponents.
The Nanooks enter Thursday’s match with an unblemished 8-0 record. UAF extended its win streak with a 4656-4649 victory at No. 4-ranked Kentucky on Jan. 19.
Additionally, tomorrow’s match is the first for the Mountaineers since ceding the No. 1 ranking to the Nanooks on Jan. 18. WVU had sat atop the College Rifle Coaches Association Poll since winning the national title last March.
“Thursday’s match is definitely going to be a challenge,” says fourth-year coach Jon Hammond. “Alaska-Fairbanks is shooting very well right now. Hopefully we can go in to the range and shoot up to our expectations. Getting a win would be great for our confidence.”
The Mountaineers’ 4653-4634 win over the Nanooks last season halted a six-match losing streak; UAF still owns a 6-3 series advantage.
Both squads bring years of national experience and glory to Thursday’s match. Combined, the two teams have won 24 national titles since 1983. The Mountaineers terminated the Nanooks strong-hold on the championship with their victory last season; prior to the win, UAF had captured all but the 2005 title since its second program win in 1999.
The Mountaineers tuned up for Thursday’s match with a 4678-4561 home victory over GARC foe NC State on Jan. 17. Junior transfer Nicco Campriani paced the squad in his first WVU match, shooting a program-best 1180 and winning air rifle (593) and smallbore (587); the Florence, Italy, native’s smallbore score is also a team record.
“Nicco is a very technical shooter and holds high standards for himself,” Hammond says. “While he was not particularly pleased with his results against NC State, his drive is what makes him such a successful shooter. We are definitely expecting good results from him tomorrow.”
Tomorrow’s match will be the first career for late-season newcomer Andraz Poje. A native of Grosuplje, Slovenia, Poje, a redshirt-junior, joins the Mountaineers with several years experience on the junior European Championship circuit. Highlights from Poje’s career include a fourth-place prone finish at the 2007 Junior European Championships in Granada, Spain, and wins in the 3x40 at the 2005 and 2007 Slovenian Junior Championships.
“Whenever you make an addition to your roster, you add a new dynamic to the team, which is always good,” Hammond explains. “I think it will take Andraz some time to settle into his training here, but I expect great things. He is a very motivated individual and has joined our team with the right attitude. He is ready to work hard and do what he can to add to the team’s success.”
A win against the Nanooks would push the Mountaineers’ record to 8-0, a mark the squad has not achieved since the 2003 season; WVU finished the year at 11-2.
Fans are encouraged to stop by the WVU Rifle Range throughout the day, as tomorrow’s match is expected to continue into the afternoon.
