MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The top-ranked West Virginia University rifle team opened the 2018-19 season with a 4704-4662 win at Akron this afternoon at the Robert A. Pinn Shooting Range in Akron, Ohio.
 
The Mountaineers (1-0, 1-0 GARC) swept the Zips (0-1, 0-1 GARC) in both disciplines, winning smallbore, 2328-2312, and air rifle, 2376-2350.
 
"It's always good to get the first match of the season underway," Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. "There were a lot of good performances today. We have to build up our endurance, but everyone worked well and learned a lot. Overall, I would say we had a decent day."
 
A pair of Mountaineers tied for the air rifle victory, with senior Ginny Thrasher (99-100-99-99-100-100) and junior Milica Babic (100-99-99-100-100-99) each shooting 597. Sophomore David Koenders shot 593 and placed third. Senior Will Anti and sophomore Sarah Osborn followed in fifth place with matching 589 totals.
 
Sophomore Noah Barker shot 587 and tied for seventh place, while freshman Jared Eddy finished in 10th place with a 586.
 
Lauryn Cinadr paced the Zips and finished fourth overall with a 590 total.
 
Osborn led the way in smallbore, shooting a winning 584 (195 kneeling, 199 prone, 190 standing).
 
"Sarah led the way for us in smallbore today, and I think it was a promising start to her season," Hammond said.
 
Babic and Thrasher tied for third place with 582s, and Koenders finished in fifth place with a 580 mark. Anti added a 574 total and finished in ninth place.
 
Eddy shot 573, good for 10th place, and Barker totaled 560.
 
Akron's Andre Gross tied Osborn for first place with a 584 total.
 
Five Mountaineers combined for the team's scores: Anti, Babic, Koenders, Osborn and Thrasher.
 
With the win, WVU improves to 17-0 all-time against the Zips.
 
The Mountaineers break from action for two weeks before opening their home season with a match against Memphis on Sunday, Oct. 14, at 10 a.m., at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Shell Building.