Photo by: Michael Wiser
2017-18 Season Review
May 02, 2018 04:34 PM | Rifle
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University rifle team finished up its 2017-18 season placing second at the 2018 NCAA Rifle Championships, held on March 9-10 inside The Citadel's McAlister Field House in Charleston, South Carolina.
After an undefeated regular season (13-0, 8-0 GARC), the rifle team claimed the program's ninth straight Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) title with an aggregate total of 4699 on Feb. 25, at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Shell Building.
Although the Mountaineers didn't capture the NCAA Championship title, the 2017-18 season was still among the program's most successful.
"The team really moved forward, and we had a great season. We really want to make sure that our season is not defined by one day at NCAA," Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. "We want to look at all the positives and all the great things that we did do this season and take those and move forward."
Mountaineers Finish Second
The top-ranked WVU rifle team delivered a championship-worthy performance at the 2018 NCAA Rifle Championships with an aggregate score of 4708, but it wasn't enough to overcome Kentucky.
On the first day of competition, the Mountaineers trailed Kentucky with a 2327 smallbore score, 18 shots short of first place. On day two, WVU claimed its sixth straight air rifle national title with a 2381 total but fell short of achieving the overall championship title. The Mountaineers finished in second place with an aggregate score of 4708, nine points behind the Wildcats' 4717 aggregate score.
Senior Elizabeth Gratz, junior Ginny Thrasher, sophomores Morgan Phillips and Milica Babic and redshirt-freshman David Koenders made up the counting team for WVU at the championship.
Phillips entered the smallbore final in eighth place, shooting a 584 total. She fought to defend her 2017 NCAA smallbore title and succeeded with a final score of 459.4. She placed 10th in the air rifle discipline with a 592 finish.
Gratz placed 22nd overall in smallbore with a 579 mark. In air rifle, she was the eighth student-athlete to make the final with a score of 594 and finished second with a 247.3 score.
Thrasher tied for a 10th-place finish in smallbore with a 582 mark. In the air rifle final, Thrasher placed third with a 226.4 score after qualifying with a 597 mark.
Babic also tied for 10th place in smallbore with a 582 score. She entered the air rifle final in first place with a score of 598 and finished sixth with a 163.8 final mark.
Koenders placed 36th with a smallbore score of 575. He finished 13th overall in air rifle with a 591 total.
Mountaineers Recognized with All-America Honors
Five from the WVU rifle team earned a combined 15 All-America honors after competing at the 2018 NCAA National Championships.
Thrasher collected three first-team honors as she was named to the NRA All-America Air Rifle and Smallbore First Teams, as well as the College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Combined Score First Team. Thrasher has earned nine career All-America honors and eight first-team accolades.
Another Mountaineer also received three first-team honors, as Babic was named to the NRA All-America Air Rifle and Smallbore First Teams, as well as the CRCA Combined Score First Team. Babic owns six career All-America honors and four first-team accolades.
Gratz rounded out her final year as a Mountaineer with three All-America awards. She was named to the NRA Air Rifle First Team, the NRA Smallbore Second Team and the CRCA Combined Score Third Team. Gratz finished her career with 12 All-America honors and five first-team accolades.
Phillips added three awards to her All-America count. She was named to the NRA Smallbore First Team, the NRA Air Rifle Second Team and the CRCA Combined Score Second Team. Phillips has earned two career first-team accolades.
Koenders finished his first season as a Mountaineer with three All-America awards as he was named to the NRA Air Rifle and Smallbore First Teams, as well as the CRCA Combined Score Second Team.
WVU Claims 2018 GARC Championship Crown
After an undefeated regular season, the Mountaineers defended their conference title at the 2018 GARC Championship, held Feb. 24-25, at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Shell Building.
The team started the championship on top with a 14-point lead, shooting a smallbore score of 2333. On the final day of competition, the Mountaineers shot an air rifle score of 2366, pushing their aggregate score to 4699 to capture the program's ninth straight GARC title.
During the championship, six Mountaineers counted toward the team's scores. Thrasher, Phillips, Gratz and Koenders counted in both disciplines, while sophomore Sarah Osborn counted toward WVU's smallbore score, and junior Will Anti counted toward the team's air rifle total.
Thrasher claimed her second career GARC smallbore title on the first day of competition with a 454.8 mark. The next day, Thrasher earned her second straight air rifle title with a 250.7 final score. Combined, she has claimed four GARC titles in three seasons.
Phillips finished second in the smallbore discipline with a 453.9 score and placed second in air rifle with a final score of 247.7.
Gratz shot a 396.4 mark and placed seventh in smallbore and finished 14th overall in air rifle with a 590 mark.
Koenders placed 10th in smallbore with a 579 total, and he came in 21st place in air rifle with a 588 total.
Anti placed 19th in the smallbore discipline with a 576 score, and he finished 16th in air rifle with a 589 score.
Osborn tied for 21st in smallbore with a 575 total, and with her air rifle final's score of 182.4, she finished fifth overall.
In the smallbore discipline, redshirt-freshman Noah Barker shot 569 and sophomore Jack Anderson shot 565. In air rifle, Barker shot a 589 mark in and Anderson shot a 579.
On the eve of the competition, WVU hosted the GARC Championship Banquet at Touchdown Terrace inside Milan Puskar Stadium.
Gratz was named the GARC Outstanding Senior, an award that celebrates one senior in the conference who has excelled throughout his or her undergraduate experience. In addition to the Outstanding Senior honor, she also was named the Mountaineers' GARC Scholar Athlete for the fourth straight year.
Of the 10 combined All-GARC Smallbore and Air Rifle First Team honors, eight were claimed by the Mountaineers.
Thrasher, Babic and Koenders were named to both teams. Phillips was named to the 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, Anti and Osborn were named to the All-GARC Air Rifle Honorable Mention Team.
Record-Breaking Season
Throughout the Mountaineers' successful year, they set multiple team records with their undeniable work ethic and championship attitude.
Two of the teams' best competitors, Gratz and Thrasher, helped pace the team with their high averages and their accomplishment of a perfect mark.
Thrasher shot a perfect 600 air rifle score on Nov. 5, 2017, against Army West Point, becoming the second Mountaineer on the team to achieve the mark. The first individual was Gratz, who shot the perfect score at Kentucky on Feb. 11, 2017.
On Sept. 30, WVU set its first NCAA record of the season against Ohio State with its 2390 air rifle score. The Mountaineers' air rifle total bested the team's previous national record of 2388, shot on Jan. 17, 2016.
The Mountaineers shot an NCAA air rifle record for the second time this season on Oct. 21 against Ole Miss with their score of 2392, which was two shots better than their record shot on Sept. 30.
Closing their fall slate in a dominant manner, the Mountaineers shot an NCAA record aggregate score 4742 in a win over Murray State on Nov. 12, inside the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range in Murray, Kentucky. The Mountaineers bested their own national record of 4740, previously shot in a win over Akron on Jan. 17, 2016. WVU also shot an NCAA record smallbore score 2356 against the Racers.
"To break all three team records throughout the year and not all on one day, but on different occasions, makes our team average probably the highest average that we've had throughout a season," Hammond added.
State-of-the-Art Facility
One of the highlights of the 2017-18 season was the unveiling of the Bill McKenzie Mobile Rifle Range.
In early 2017, the WVU rifle team and the Mountaineer Athletic Club launched the WVU Mobile Rifle Range project. Various loyal Mountaineer supporters stepped up to contribute to this project, including Mountaineer legend Bill McKenzie. Known for his game-winning field goal kick against Pitt in the Mountaineers' 17-14 victory on Nov. 8, 1975, McKenzie donated $100,000 toward the mobile range project to ensure the rifle team's future success.
This project came to life when the Mountaineers competed at the range for the first time during their match against Kentucky on Feb. 11. That same day, the rifle team earned the 2018 GARC regular-season title with a 4720-4693 victory.
The Bill McKenzie Mobile Rifle Range includes 20 3D electronic target systems, featuring crossfire detection and zero consumables of paper or rubber bands. The range also features 20 bullet catchers and surrounding walls, which will create a safe range area, allowing for competition in any arena. A fan favorite, the range also includes large projector screens that provide shot-by-shot coverage.
The range allows the Mountaineers to host large-scale events, such as the 2019 NCAA National Championships, and will help the team simulate championship experiences to better prepare the student-athletes.
Four Years of Dedication
Gratz helped guide the Mountaineers with her role as the team captain during her final year in the program.
After four years on the WVU rifle team, she ended her career with multiple prestigious honors.
With her 4.0 grade point average (GPA), she earned the sport of rifle's top academic honor for the second straight season, as she was named the Elite 90 Award winner for NCAA Division 1 Rifle. On the last day of the NCAA Championships, her skills were showcased as she placed second in the air rifle final with a 247.3 score.
"It was really special to receive the award. I didn't really know I was going to get it so it felt pretty cool," Gratz said.
A Special Visit
The WVU rifle team joined 18 collegiate teams at NCAA Champions Day at the White House on Nov. 17, 2017, in Washington, D.C.
This was the Mountaineers' second trip to the White House in four years and a celebration of their nation-best 19th NCAA National Championship achieved during the 2016-17 season. The Mountaineers enjoyed an extensive tour of the White House before meeting with President Donald Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy Devos.
"I was delighted for the team members to experience something like NCAA Champions Day, as it's a rare, unique opportunity," said Hammond.
After an undefeated regular season (13-0, 8-0 GARC), the rifle team claimed the program's ninth straight Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) title with an aggregate total of 4699 on Feb. 25, at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Shell Building.
Although the Mountaineers didn't capture the NCAA Championship title, the 2017-18 season was still among the program's most successful.
"The team really moved forward, and we had a great season. We really want to make sure that our season is not defined by one day at NCAA," Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. "We want to look at all the positives and all the great things that we did do this season and take those and move forward."
Mountaineers Finish Second
The top-ranked WVU rifle team delivered a championship-worthy performance at the 2018 NCAA Rifle Championships with an aggregate score of 4708, but it wasn't enough to overcome Kentucky.
On the first day of competition, the Mountaineers trailed Kentucky with a 2327 smallbore score, 18 shots short of first place. On day two, WVU claimed its sixth straight air rifle national title with a 2381 total but fell short of achieving the overall championship title. The Mountaineers finished in second place with an aggregate score of 4708, nine points behind the Wildcats' 4717 aggregate score.
Senior Elizabeth Gratz, junior Ginny Thrasher, sophomores Morgan Phillips and Milica Babic and redshirt-freshman David Koenders made up the counting team for WVU at the championship.
Phillips entered the smallbore final in eighth place, shooting a 584 total. She fought to defend her 2017 NCAA smallbore title and succeeded with a final score of 459.4. She placed 10th in the air rifle discipline with a 592 finish.
Gratz placed 22nd overall in smallbore with a 579 mark. In air rifle, she was the eighth student-athlete to make the final with a score of 594 and finished second with a 247.3 score.
Thrasher tied for a 10th-place finish in smallbore with a 582 mark. In the air rifle final, Thrasher placed third with a 226.4 score after qualifying with a 597 mark.
Babic also tied for 10th place in smallbore with a 582 score. She entered the air rifle final in first place with a score of 598 and finished sixth with a 163.8 final mark.
Koenders placed 36th with a smallbore score of 575. He finished 13th overall in air rifle with a 591 total.
Mountaineers Recognized with All-America Honors
Five from the WVU rifle team earned a combined 15 All-America honors after competing at the 2018 NCAA National Championships.
Thrasher collected three first-team honors as she was named to the NRA All-America Air Rifle and Smallbore First Teams, as well as the College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Combined Score First Team. Thrasher has earned nine career All-America honors and eight first-team accolades.
Another Mountaineer also received three first-team honors, as Babic was named to the NRA All-America Air Rifle and Smallbore First Teams, as well as the CRCA Combined Score First Team. Babic owns six career All-America honors and four first-team accolades.
Gratz rounded out her final year as a Mountaineer with three All-America awards. She was named to the NRA Air Rifle First Team, the NRA Smallbore Second Team and the CRCA Combined Score Third Team. Gratz finished her career with 12 All-America honors and five first-team accolades.
Phillips added three awards to her All-America count. She was named to the NRA Smallbore First Team, the NRA Air Rifle Second Team and the CRCA Combined Score Second Team. Phillips has earned two career first-team accolades.
Koenders finished his first season as a Mountaineer with three All-America awards as he was named to the NRA Air Rifle and Smallbore First Teams, as well as the CRCA Combined Score Second Team.
WVU Claims 2018 GARC Championship Crown
After an undefeated regular season, the Mountaineers defended their conference title at the 2018 GARC Championship, held Feb. 24-25, at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Shell Building.
The team started the championship on top with a 14-point lead, shooting a smallbore score of 2333. On the final day of competition, the Mountaineers shot an air rifle score of 2366, pushing their aggregate score to 4699 to capture the program's ninth straight GARC title.
During the championship, six Mountaineers counted toward the team's scores. Thrasher, Phillips, Gratz and Koenders counted in both disciplines, while sophomore Sarah Osborn counted toward WVU's smallbore score, and junior Will Anti counted toward the team's air rifle total.
Thrasher claimed her second career GARC smallbore title on the first day of competition with a 454.8 mark. The next day, Thrasher earned her second straight air rifle title with a 250.7 final score. Combined, she has claimed four GARC titles in three seasons.
Phillips finished second in the smallbore discipline with a 453.9 score and placed second in air rifle with a final score of 247.7.
Gratz shot a 396.4 mark and placed seventh in smallbore and finished 14th overall in air rifle with a 590 mark.
Koenders placed 10th in smallbore with a 579 total, and he came in 21st place in air rifle with a 588 total.
Anti placed 19th in the smallbore discipline with a 576 score, and he finished 16th in air rifle with a 589 score.
Osborn tied for 21st in smallbore with a 575 total, and with her air rifle final's score of 182.4, she finished fifth overall.
In the smallbore discipline, redshirt-freshman Noah Barker shot 569 and sophomore Jack Anderson shot 565. In air rifle, Barker shot a 589 mark in and Anderson shot a 579.
On the eve of the competition, WVU hosted the GARC Championship Banquet at Touchdown Terrace inside Milan Puskar Stadium.
Gratz was named the GARC Outstanding Senior, an award that celebrates one senior in the conference who has excelled throughout his or her undergraduate experience. In addition to the Outstanding Senior honor, she also was named the Mountaineers' GARC Scholar Athlete for the fourth straight year.
Of the 10 combined All-GARC Smallbore and Air Rifle First Team honors, eight were claimed by the Mountaineers.
Thrasher, Babic and Koenders were named to both teams. Phillips was named to the 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, Anti and Osborn were named to the All-GARC Air Rifle Honorable Mention Team.
Record-Breaking Season
Throughout the Mountaineers' successful year, they set multiple team records with their undeniable work ethic and championship attitude.
Two of the teams' best competitors, Gratz and Thrasher, helped pace the team with their high averages and their accomplishment of a perfect mark.
Thrasher shot a perfect 600 air rifle score on Nov. 5, 2017, against Army West Point, becoming the second Mountaineer on the team to achieve the mark. The first individual was Gratz, who shot the perfect score at Kentucky on Feb. 11, 2017.
On Sept. 30, WVU set its first NCAA record of the season against Ohio State with its 2390 air rifle score. The Mountaineers' air rifle total bested the team's previous national record of 2388, shot on Jan. 17, 2016.
The Mountaineers shot an NCAA air rifle record for the second time this season on Oct. 21 against Ole Miss with their score of 2392, which was two shots better than their record shot on Sept. 30.
Closing their fall slate in a dominant manner, the Mountaineers shot an NCAA record aggregate score 4742 in a win over Murray State on Nov. 12, inside the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range in Murray, Kentucky. The Mountaineers bested their own national record of 4740, previously shot in a win over Akron on Jan. 17, 2016. WVU also shot an NCAA record smallbore score 2356 against the Racers.
"To break all three team records throughout the year and not all on one day, but on different occasions, makes our team average probably the highest average that we've had throughout a season," Hammond added.
State-of-the-Art Facility
One of the highlights of the 2017-18 season was the unveiling of the Bill McKenzie Mobile Rifle Range.
In early 2017, the WVU rifle team and the Mountaineer Athletic Club launched the WVU Mobile Rifle Range project. Various loyal Mountaineer supporters stepped up to contribute to this project, including Mountaineer legend Bill McKenzie. Known for his game-winning field goal kick against Pitt in the Mountaineers' 17-14 victory on Nov. 8, 1975, McKenzie donated $100,000 toward the mobile range project to ensure the rifle team's future success.
This project came to life when the Mountaineers competed at the range for the first time during their match against Kentucky on Feb. 11. That same day, the rifle team earned the 2018 GARC regular-season title with a 4720-4693 victory.
The Bill McKenzie Mobile Rifle Range includes 20 3D electronic target systems, featuring crossfire detection and zero consumables of paper or rubber bands. The range also features 20 bullet catchers and surrounding walls, which will create a safe range area, allowing for competition in any arena. A fan favorite, the range also includes large projector screens that provide shot-by-shot coverage.
The range allows the Mountaineers to host large-scale events, such as the 2019 NCAA National Championships, and will help the team simulate championship experiences to better prepare the student-athletes.
Four Years of Dedication
Gratz helped guide the Mountaineers with her role as the team captain during her final year in the program.
After four years on the WVU rifle team, she ended her career with multiple prestigious honors.
With her 4.0 grade point average (GPA), she earned the sport of rifle's top academic honor for the second straight season, as she was named the Elite 90 Award winner for NCAA Division 1 Rifle. On the last day of the NCAA Championships, her skills were showcased as she placed second in the air rifle final with a 247.3 score.
"It was really special to receive the award. I didn't really know I was going to get it so it felt pretty cool," Gratz said.
A Special Visit
The WVU rifle team joined 18 collegiate teams at NCAA Champions Day at the White House on Nov. 17, 2017, in Washington, D.C.
This was the Mountaineers' second trip to the White House in four years and a celebration of their nation-best 19th NCAA National Championship achieved during the 2016-17 season. The Mountaineers enjoyed an extensive tour of the White House before meeting with President Donald Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy Devos.
"I was delighted for the team members to experience something like NCAA Champions Day, as it's a rare, unique opportunity," said Hammond.
Jon Hammond NCAA Championship | March 18
Wednesday, March 18
A Conversation with Wren Baker
Monday, December 05
Jon Hammond | Thursday
Thursday, September 30
Life as a Mountaineer - Jared Eddy
Wednesday, March 24
