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WVU Ends Fall Semester Undefeated
November 21, 2015 07:04 PM | Rifle
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 1-ranked West Virginia University rifle team ended the fall semester undefeated, as the team tallied its seventh straight victory with a 4711-4684 win over No. 8 Ohio State, today, at the WVU Rifle Range.
The Mountaineers (7-0, 4-0 GARC) won both disciplines, outshooting the Buckeyes in smallbore, 2333-2325, and air rifle, 2378-2359.
“Overall, I thought it was a really good team performance,” said WVU coach Jon Hammond. “I am very proud of how hard the team worked today. That’s always hard to do when the end of the semester nears. I thought everyone was really focused, and they worked really hard throughout today’s match.”
In smallbore, seniors Michael Bamsey and Garrett Spurgeon, as well as sophomore Elizabeth Gratz, matched a program record, shooting 200 prone. The mark was last shot by Thomas Kyanko vs. Akron, at the WVU Rifle Range, on Feb. 21, 2015.
“Multiple people have shot that in terms of a record, but they all shot it at the same time, on the same relay, which was really cool to see,” Hammond explained. “That definitely helped their scores overall, and it was really cool to see them shoot that together.”
Gratz matched her career-high 585 (195 kneeling, 200 prone, 190 standing) score that was last shot against Mississippi, on Nov. 1, and placed first overall. Junior Jean-Pierre Lucas placed second with 584 (194 kneeling, 198 prone, 192 standing), while Bamsey and Spurgeon tied for third place with 583s (196 kneeling, 200 prone, 187 standing).
Gratz, Bamsey, Spurgeon, senior Meelis Kiisk (582) and freshman Ginny Thrasher (576) completed the Mountaineer counting squad.
In air rifle, the team shot a season-high score of 2378.
“It was a lot better than last weekend, and the team had some really good air rifle scores overall," said Hammond. "The highlight of the day was definitely (senior) Patrick (Sunderman). He shot a personal best for the second time this semester, and he erased it again today with a 597. That’s an excellent score, and I am really happy for him. He has been working really hard, especially in air rifle.
“There were some other really good scores across the board as well. (Freshman) Ginny (Thrasher) and (sophomore) Elizabeth (Gratz) had excellent air rifle scores. It was a really good day for them overall.”
Senior Patrick Sunderman shot a career-high 597 (98-100-100-100-100-99) and placed first overall. Gratz and Thrasher followed in second with a 594 mark, while Kiisk shot a 593 (99-98-99-99-100-98) and finished third overall.
Gratz had a strong performance on the day, as she also recorded a season-high 594 (99-99-99-98-100-99) mark in air rifle, one mark short of her career-high. Gratz set a career-high aggregate score of 1179, one shot higher than her previous mark this season.
Spurgeon (587), Sunderman, Gratz, Thrasher and Kiisk contributed to the air rifle victory.
Ohio State’s Remington Lyman and Drew Cheezum finished second in smallbore with 584s. Lyman paced the Buckeyes in air rifle with a 592 and placed fifth overall.
Today’s win pushes the team’s undefeated record against the Buckeyes to 41-0.
“The focus will quickly shift to the U.S. Olympic Trials the week after Thanksgiving,” Hammond noted. “They will have a week off, and then we will come back and get ready for that. It is a huge competition for them, especially for the U.S. athletes. It will be a great trip for them, and they will face some really tough competition.
“After that, it is time for finals and time to have a break over the holidays. I’m sure some of them will keep shooting, but for the most part, we will try to have a good break. It will be a chance for them to step away from the range for a little bit and have a mental break. Then we will be ready to come back in January.”
The Mountaineers will begin spring-semester competition with a match against nonconference opponent Alaska-Fairbanks on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the WVU Rifle Range.
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