The No. 1-ranked West Virginia University rifle team opened its season defeating No. 8 TCU, 4712-4664, today, at the WVU Rifle Range.  

 

The team’s 4712 aggregate score is the highest of any opening match score in team history and two shots higher than any last season. The Mountaineers’ high score in 2013-14 was 4710, when they placed first at the Withrow Invitational, Jan. 24, at Murray State.

 

“I wasn’t surprised by the score,” head coach Jon Hammond said. “I’m certainly really happy to see that, but I’m more happy that we had a good performance. We’ve almost come to expect good scores from the team, but it was very pleasing to see them work hard to get it today.”

 

The Mountaineers won both disciplines, outshooting the Horned Frogs in smallbore, 2340-2308, and air rifle, 2372-2356.

 

WVU took the top-five spots in smallbore, with junior Garrett Spurgeon placing first, shooting 589 (199 kneeling, 198 prone, 192 standing) and matching his personal high. Spurgeon’s 199 kneeling score matched a school record, last shot by Mountaineer alum Petra Zublasing in 2012.

 

Senior Thomas Kyanko and sophomore Jean-Pierre Lucas tied for second shooting 584, while senior Ziva Dvorsak placed fourth (583). Junior newcomer Michael Bamsey placed fifth with a 581 score.

 

Three TCU shooters tied for sixth with 578 marks.

 

Bamsey, Dvorsak, Kyanko, Lucas and Spurgeon made up the Mountaineer smallbore counting squad.

 

Placing first in air rifle, Dvorsak scored 597 (99-99-100-100-99-100), just one short of her career-high. TCU’s Hannah Black finished second, scoring 593. WVU freshman Elizabeth Gratz and Bamsey tied for third (592), while Spurgeon and TCU’s Mindy Miles tied for fifth (591).

 

The air rifle counting squad included: Bamsey, Dvorsak, Gratz, Lucas and Spurgeon.

 

“Everyone has a patch in the match where it doesn’t go as well as they want,” noted Hammond. “Today everyone did a great job of managing their frustration, controlling their emotions and pushing through for a great team win.”

 

Of note, Lucas shot 589 in air rifle for a 1173 aggregate score, just one short of his career high. Spurgeon also shot one short of his record, combining for 1180.

 

“We can take a ton of positives from the match today,” said Hammond. “The shooters all worked hard throughout the match, and they were very disciplined and professional. We didn’t have many personal bests today, so there’s room for improvement, which is great. To have that great of a performance but know we can do better is encouraging for the rest of the season.”

 

The Mountaineers will compete again in two weeks, traveling to No. 12 Akron on Oct. 25 and No. 10 Ohio State on Oct. 26.