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No. 3 Mountaineers Tally Sixth Win
November 14, 2015 05:48 PM | Women's Soccer
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 3-ranked West Virginia University rifle team tallied its sixth straight victory, defeating No. 9 Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) foe Army, 4709-4653, today, at the WVU Rifle Range.
West Virginia (6-0, 4-0 GARC) outshot Army in both disciplines, besting the Black Knights in air rifle, 2363-2336, and smallbore, 2346-2317.
“The smallbore team score was one of the best scores that we ever shot,” said coach Jon Hammond. “I know we can shoot better air rifle, we just have to keep working and making improvements.
“Overall, I think we are happy with the team’s performance today. All eight members shot above an 1170 in the combined total, and I think that says a lot about the consistency of this team. Everyone maximized his and her performances across the board today.”
Senior Garrett Spurgeon shot a team-high 589 (194 kneeling, 199 prone, 196 standing) smallbore score. The mark was one shot short of his season-high 590 score, tallied at then-ranked No. 16 Mississippi, on Nov. 1. Spurgeon finished first, while freshman Ginny Thrasher finished second overall with a career-high score of 588 (196 kneeling, 196 prone, 196 standing).
Senior Meelis Kiisk and junior Jean-Pierre Lucas placed third (587) and fourth (584), respectively, while freshman Will Anti shot a career-high score of 583 and placed fifth.
Nathan Brewer and Danielle Cuomo paced the Black Knights in smallbore and tied for seventh place with 582s.
A Mountaineer also finished first in air rifle, as Thrasher shot a 593 (100, 99, 99, 97, 99, 99). Anti tallied a career-high 592 (99, 100, 98, 99, 99, 97) and placed second. Seniors Michael Bamsey and Patrick Sunderman tied Anti for second with their own 592 marks, a season-best score for Bamsey. Sophomore Elizabeth Gratz shot 591 and placed fifth.
“Will was not feeling well today, so he really had to work hard in his matches,” Hammond noted. “I think he struggled in both matches, but they were the two best scores in both guns this semester. It’s good to see that improvement and see him shoot well in competition.
“Ginny was really solid. Her smallbore was really good, especially in standing. Her air rifle was very disciplined, and when your two freshmen are performing well it is beneficial for the team overall.”
Alyssa Gestl paced the Black Knights in air rifle with a 588 score, and finished sixth overall.
Four Mountaineers shot toward the team’s scores in both guns: Spurgeon, Kiisk, Gratz and Thrasher. Bamsey shot toward the team’s smallbore mark, and Sunderman added to the squad’s air rifle total.
With the win, WVU improves to 35-10 all-time against Army.
“We have to keep progressing going into this final week of fall competition,” Hammond stated. “A lot of them have one eye on the Olympic trials that are coming up in the beginning of December, and this gives them one last shot at competition before that. We are looking forward to another match.”
The Mountaineers return to the WVU Rifle Range next week and shoot against Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 21. The match is set to begin at 8 a.m., and fans are encouraged to sit inside the range to watch the competition. The WVU Rifle Range is located directly behind the WVU Coliseum near the WVU Natatorium.
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