Saturday, October 20
Morgantown, W.Va.
2:00 PM
West Virginia University
vs
Ohio State
Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
No. 3 Mountaineers Take Over WVU Coliseum
October 19, 2018 01:19 PM | Rifle
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – For the first time in program history, the No. 3-ranked West Virginia University rifle team will compete inside the WVU Coliseum, as the Mountaineers play host to four ranked opponents over two days this weekend at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range.
WVU (2-0, 2-0 GARC) faces No. 6 Murray State (4-1, 2-0 OVC) and No. 10 Ohio State (3-1, 2-1 PRC) on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 2 p.m. WVU will then compete against No. 2-ranked Air Force (2-0, 2-0 PRC) and Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) foe, No. 9 Nebraska (0-3, 0-1 GARC), on Sunday at 9 a.m.
Saturday's competition begins with smallbore at 2 p.m. Air rifle will follow at 4:45 p.m., and an air rifle final will begin at 6:30 p.m.
On Sunday, smallbore will begin at 9 a.m., and air rifle will follow at 11:45 a.m. The weekend concludes with an air rifle final at 1:30 p.m.
Admission is free both days.
This weekend's competition is intended to simulate the setting the Mountaineers will compete in when WVU hosts the 2019 NCAA National Championships, set for March 8-9, at the WVU Coliseum.
"We're really excited about competing inside the WVU Coliseum for the first time in program history," Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. "From our sport's point of view, the exposure is great. Any time you can shoot in a different arena is a fun experience for a team, and the WVU Coliseum is an iconic venue on our campus. This is an exciting opportunity. This will be the venue for the NCAA Championships, and we're ready to build some early excitement."
The Mountaineers moved to No. 3 in this week's College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Rankings. The position is based on WVU's most recent score of 4711, shot in a victory over Memphis (4639) on Oct. 14, in Morgantown.
WVU is 45-0 all-time against Ohio State, 24-3 against Murray State, 18-0 against Air Force and 13-3 against Nebraska. The Mountaineers faced each team but Air Force last year and earned three victories, including a 4742-4703 win at then-No. 3. Murray State on Nov. 12, 2017. The Mountaineers' winning score, as well as their smallbore score of 2356, were NCAA records.
The Falcons enter the weekend ranked No. 2 nationally after shooting 4714 in a win over UTEP (4561) on Oct. 14.
"I think we're shooting against four quality teams this weekend, and that's really going to add to the excitement that surrounds these matches," Hammond added. "It's not often we compete against a team ranked higher than us. We're facing great competition both days, and these two matches are a big benefit for this team and our preparation for the postseason."
Last week, WVU swept the Tigers, winning smallbore, 2331-2304, and air rifle, 2380-2335. Senior Ginny Thrasher led the way in the individual competitions, shooting a winning, season-best 599 air rifle, as well as a 589 smallbore.
WVU (2-0, 2-0 GARC) faces No. 6 Murray State (4-1, 2-0 OVC) and No. 10 Ohio State (3-1, 2-1 PRC) on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 2 p.m. WVU will then compete against No. 2-ranked Air Force (2-0, 2-0 PRC) and Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) foe, No. 9 Nebraska (0-3, 0-1 GARC), on Sunday at 9 a.m.
Saturday's competition begins with smallbore at 2 p.m. Air rifle will follow at 4:45 p.m., and an air rifle final will begin at 6:30 p.m.
On Sunday, smallbore will begin at 9 a.m., and air rifle will follow at 11:45 a.m. The weekend concludes with an air rifle final at 1:30 p.m.
Admission is free both days.
This weekend's competition is intended to simulate the setting the Mountaineers will compete in when WVU hosts the 2019 NCAA National Championships, set for March 8-9, at the WVU Coliseum.
"We're really excited about competing inside the WVU Coliseum for the first time in program history," Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. "From our sport's point of view, the exposure is great. Any time you can shoot in a different arena is a fun experience for a team, and the WVU Coliseum is an iconic venue on our campus. This is an exciting opportunity. This will be the venue for the NCAA Championships, and we're ready to build some early excitement."
The Mountaineers moved to No. 3 in this week's College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Rankings. The position is based on WVU's most recent score of 4711, shot in a victory over Memphis (4639) on Oct. 14, in Morgantown.
WVU is 45-0 all-time against Ohio State, 24-3 against Murray State, 18-0 against Air Force and 13-3 against Nebraska. The Mountaineers faced each team but Air Force last year and earned three victories, including a 4742-4703 win at then-No. 3. Murray State on Nov. 12, 2017. The Mountaineers' winning score, as well as their smallbore score of 2356, were NCAA records.
The Falcons enter the weekend ranked No. 2 nationally after shooting 4714 in a win over UTEP (4561) on Oct. 14.
"I think we're shooting against four quality teams this weekend, and that's really going to add to the excitement that surrounds these matches," Hammond added. "It's not often we compete against a team ranked higher than us. We're facing great competition both days, and these two matches are a big benefit for this team and our preparation for the postseason."
Last week, WVU swept the Tigers, winning smallbore, 2331-2304, and air rifle, 2380-2335. Senior Ginny Thrasher led the way in the individual competitions, shooting a winning, season-best 599 air rifle, as well as a 589 smallbore.
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