Rifle: 2010-11 Schedule Released
July 29, 2010 02:42 PM | General
July 29, 2010
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| Jon Hammond |
MORANGTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University Director of Athletics Oliver Luck announced today the schedule for the upcoming 2010-11 rifle season.
The Mountaineers, the reigning Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) regular season and postseason champions, return to the WVU Rifle Range in search of their second NCAA title in three seasons.
“The 2010-11 season looks to be another challenging, exciting year for coach Jon Hammond and the Mountaineers,” says Luck. “Having experienced great success over the last two seasons, this squad appears ready to tackle another demanding schedule against the nation’s best teams.”
WVU’s slate features six 2010 NCAA Championship participants, including first-time winner TCU. The Mountaineers own a 3-0 record over the Horned Frogs, and this season’s meeting will be the first between the two squads in two years.
“I think this schedule is one of the most challenging we have ever had,” says fifth year coach Jon Hammond. “We’re happy we were able to get TCU back on the schedule. Facing off against the reigning NCAA champions will be exciting.
“The slate is pretty heavy in the fall, and that sets us up nicely for the rest of the season. Hopefully, we can build off of that and peak in the postseason.”
In total, the Mountaineers, owners of a nation-best 14 NCAA titles, will face three of the last 10 national champions, including 10-time winner Alaska-Fairbanks, and 2005 champion and GARC foe Army.
WVU and UAF, the 2010 NCAA runner-up, will meet on Jan. 22 for the eighth time since 2002. The Mountaineers have been the more dominate team as of late, winning the last two shoulder-to-shoulder matches. WVU most recently defeated UAF, 4697-4670, in Morgantown on Jan. 21; the Mountaineers’ aggregate score was a nation-best total and is the highest collegiate combined score since the NCAA implemented a 60-shot course at the onset of the 2004-05 season.
“Hosting the Nanooks is always a highlight on our schedule,” Hammond says.
The Mountaineers face the Black Knights in West Point, N.Y., on Nov. 12. Army finished fifth at the 2010 national championship and GARC championship.
Despite having to take to the road only twice in the regular season, the Mountaineers must travel to conference rival Kentucky on Feb. 5 for a shoulder-to-shoulder match that could determine the GARC regular-season champion. The Wildcats have won three GARC titles since 2004.
WVU trumped UK three times last season; the Wildcats finished fourth at the NCAA Championship.
Additionally, WVU will face Nebraska and Murray State, the sixth and seventh place finishers, respectively, at last season’s national championship. The Mountaineers and Cornhuskers will meet twice this season, with both matches taking place in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers open their season and play host to Ohio State on Oct. 16. WVU will play host to nine matches this year.
While on the road, WVU will face Ole Miss in West Point on Nov. 13, and Columbus State in Lexington, Ky., on Feb. 6; the meeting with the Cougars will be the first between the teams.
WVU returns eight student-athletes, including six National Rifle Association All-Americans, from a squad that went 11-0 last season.
2010-11 WVU Rifle Schedule
Date, Opponent
Oct. 16, OHIO STATE
Oct. 24, TCU
Nov. 6, MEMPHIS *
Nov. 7 MURRAY STATE
Nov. 12, at Army *
Nov. 13, vs. Ole Miss *&
Nov. 19, NC STATE *
Nov. 21, NEBRASKA *
Jan. 15, AKRON
Jan. 22, ALASKA-FAIRBANKS
Feb. 5, at Kentucky *
Feb. 6, vs. Columbus State !
Feb. 12, NEBRASKA *$
Feb. 26-27, at GARC Championships %
March 11-12, at NCAA Championships #
* - GARC match
& - at West Point, N.Y.
! - at Lexington, Ky.
$ - NCAA Qualifying Match
% - at Oxford, Miss.
# - at Columbus, Ga.
All home matches are in CAPS
All times Eastern and subject to change
