MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 1-ranked West Virginia University rifle team will get an early look at the 2016 NCAA Rifle Championships venue this weekend, as the Mountaineers will shoot at the University of Akron’s Championship Rehearsal Rifle Match on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Louis and Freda Stile Athletics Field House.
In a test run for the 2016 NCAA National Championships, set for March 11-12, the Mountaineers will shoot smallbore and air rifle on the same range in the Field House. The targets will remain stationary while the firing line is moved between disciplines.
Twelve teams will shoot at this weekend’s championship preview. The Mountaineers (4-0, 3-0 GARC) will compete in a shoulder-to-shoulder match against No. 4-ranked Murray State, with the smallbore relay set to begin at 8 a.m. Saturday. The air rifle relay will start at 10:15 a.m.
The Racers are off to a strong start this season, having matched the Mountaineers’ nation-best score of 4714 and earning the program’s first No. 1 national ranking two weeks ago.
WVU is 21-3 all-time against Murray State.
“This weekend’s match is such great preparation for us, as it will be the same exact range we will shoot on for the NCAA Championships,” said Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond. “That’s the biggest benefit for us – we will see the facility, shoot on it and get a sense of the environment. We’ll stay at the same hotel we will stay at in March and gather as much information as we can to help us down the road.
“Overall, we aren’t focused too much on the scores this weekend. We will be working on our performances and getting practice at the venue. I do want to see the team work hard and maintain their focus on their performance, process and the things they can control.”
The Mountaineers are coming off a 2-0 showing against Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) foes, as WVU hit the road last week and won at No. 9 Memphis, 4693-4671, on Oct. 31, and at Mississippi, 4713-4602, on Nov. 1.
WVU was outstanding against the Rebels, defeating Mississippi in air rifle, 2375-2332, and smallbore, 2338-2270. Senior Garrett Spurgeon shot a smallbore career best with a 590 showing, finishing first overall. The Canton, Missouri, native also shot a season high in air rifle, winning the discipline with a 596 score. For his efforts, he was named the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week.
