Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
Gratz Named GARC Outstanding Senior
February 23, 2018 09:17 PM | Rifle
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Elizabeth Gratz of the No. 1-ranked West Virginia University rifle team was named the Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Outstanding Senior at the GARC Championships banquet this evening at Touchdown Terrace inside Milan Puskar Stadium.
A native of Sigel, Illinois, Gratz is the ninth Mountaineer and fourth since 2013 to claim the conference's top senior award.
"This is a great honor for Elizabeth," Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. "It recognizes her strong season and her improvement and growth as an athlete. Senior year comes with different, unique challenges, and she has managed to navigate everything and have a successful season."
A nine-time All-American, Gratz ranks No. 3 on the team with a 594.429 air rifle season average. She also ranks No. 5 in smallbore with a season average of 580.786. Gratz shows career highs of 590 smallbore and a perfect 600 air rifle. She has shot season highs of 588 smallbore and 598 air rifle.
In addition to the Outstanding Senior honor, Gratz also was named the Mountaineers' GARC Scholar Athlete for the fourth straight year. A marketing major, she is the only Mountaineer to earn the award four times.
"Elizabeth sets an amazing example for this program," Hammond said of the 2017 NCAA Elite 90 Award winner. "For her to represent our team four straight years is a great achievement."
The All-GARC honors also were awarded this evening, and seven Mountaineers claimed 18 total awards.
"This is the time of year when a lot of awards are handed out. It's great recognition for all the hard work these student-athletes have put in all year long," Hammond said. "We've had a good year in the GARC, and these awards speak to that and our team's depth. As a coach, this is really pleasing, but at the same time, I know we need to stay focused and shoot well at the championship this weekend."
Of the 10 combined All-GARC Smallbore and Air Rifle First Team honors, eight were claimed by Mountaineers. Junior Ginny Thrasher, sophomore Milica Babic and redshirt-freshman David Koenders were named to both teams. Sophomore Morgan Phillips was named to smallbore first team, and Gratz was named to the air rifle first team.
Gratz also was named to the All-GARC Smallbore Second Team, while Phillips landed on the All-GARC Air Rifle Second Team. Additionally, junior Will Anti and freshman Sarah Osborn were named to the All-GARC Air Rifle Honorable Mention Team.
Thrasher, Babic, Koenders and Phillips were named to the All-GARC Combined Score First Team. Gratz landed on the second team, and Osborn and Anti claimed honorable mention honors.
The Mountaineers, the 2018 GARC regular-season champions, play host to the 2018 GARC Championships Feb. 24-25 at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Shell Building. Action begins at 7 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday. Admission is free both days.
A native of Sigel, Illinois, Gratz is the ninth Mountaineer and fourth since 2013 to claim the conference's top senior award.
"This is a great honor for Elizabeth," Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. "It recognizes her strong season and her improvement and growth as an athlete. Senior year comes with different, unique challenges, and she has managed to navigate everything and have a successful season."
A nine-time All-American, Gratz ranks No. 3 on the team with a 594.429 air rifle season average. She also ranks No. 5 in smallbore with a season average of 580.786. Gratz shows career highs of 590 smallbore and a perfect 600 air rifle. She has shot season highs of 588 smallbore and 598 air rifle.
In addition to the Outstanding Senior honor, Gratz also was named the Mountaineers' GARC Scholar Athlete for the fourth straight year. A marketing major, she is the only Mountaineer to earn the award four times.
"Elizabeth sets an amazing example for this program," Hammond said of the 2017 NCAA Elite 90 Award winner. "For her to represent our team four straight years is a great achievement."
The All-GARC honors also were awarded this evening, and seven Mountaineers claimed 18 total awards.
"This is the time of year when a lot of awards are handed out. It's great recognition for all the hard work these student-athletes have put in all year long," Hammond said. "We've had a good year in the GARC, and these awards speak to that and our team's depth. As a coach, this is really pleasing, but at the same time, I know we need to stay focused and shoot well at the championship this weekend."
Of the 10 combined All-GARC Smallbore and Air Rifle First Team honors, eight were claimed by Mountaineers. Junior Ginny Thrasher, sophomore Milica Babic and redshirt-freshman David Koenders were named to both teams. Sophomore Morgan Phillips was named to smallbore first team, and Gratz was named to the air rifle first team.
Gratz also was named to the All-GARC Smallbore Second Team, while Phillips landed on the All-GARC Air Rifle Second Team. Additionally, junior Will Anti and freshman Sarah Osborn were named to the All-GARC Air Rifle Honorable Mention Team.
Thrasher, Babic, Koenders and Phillips were named to the All-GARC Combined Score First Team. Gratz landed on the second team, and Osborn and Anti claimed honorable mention honors.
The Mountaineers, the 2018 GARC regular-season champions, play host to the 2018 GARC Championships Feb. 24-25 at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Shell Building. Action begins at 7 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday. Admission is free both days.
Players Mentioned
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