MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 2-ranked West Virginia University rifle team opened its spring season this afternoon with a 4703-4665 win over No. 7 Ole Miss at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Shell Building.
The Mountaineers (11-0, 6-0 GARC) swept the Rebels (3-6, 2-4 GARC) in both disciplines, winning smallbore, 2328-2304, and air rifle, 2375-2361. WVU's aggregate and air rifle marks are the team's fourth-best scores of the season.
"I think today was a really solid start for the team," Mountaineer coach
Jon Hammond said. "Everyone's approach to the match was good, and it was a professional performance, like always. There may have been a little rust, but sometimes it takes that first match to shake it all off. There were promising signs from everyone, even if some of the scores weren't what they wanted.
"Last semester, we shot really consistent smallbore, and it was nice to see air rifle catch up today. We're moving in the right direction."
Sophomore
David Koenders won smallbore outright with a season-high score of 585 (198 kneeling, 197 prone, 190 standing). The Mossautal, Germany, native also tied teammates
Milica Babic (97-100-99-100-99-99) and
Verena Zaisberger (99-100-98-98-99-100) for the air rifle win with a season-best 594 (100-98-99-99-100-98) mark.
"David had a really good match, and today was great for him and his confidence," Hammond said. "He worked really hard last semester, and sometimes you just need that good match to show you're going in the right direction. You need to have patience, and that patience paid off for him today."
In her Mountaineer debut, Zaisberger, a freshman from Hohenems, Austria, also finished second in smallbore with a 584 score.
"Today was a great start for Verena," Hammond noted. "She was very level-headed, and it was nice to incorporate our new teammate. Verena went about the day the right way, and she put a lot of effort into her preparation. She gives us more depth, which is great."
Freshman
Jared Eddy shot 582 and finished third in smallbore, while senior
Ginny Thrasher finished fourth with a 580 total. Senior
Will Anti and sophomore
Sarah Osborn tied for fifth place with 579 marks, and Babic shot 573.
Erin Walsh paced the Rebels and finished tied for fifth with a 579 total.
In air rifle, Thrasher placed fifth with a 593 mark, the second-highest total shot today. Anti finished in seventh place with a 588 score, and Osborn followed in ninth place with a 587 score. Eddy shot 582.
Jillian Zakrzeski paced the Rebels in air rifle and tied the Mountaineer trio for first place with a 594 score.
Five Mountaineers counted toward the team's scores: Babic, Koenders, Osborn, Thrasher and Zaisberger.
With the win, WVU improves to 15-3 all-time against Ole Miss.
The Mountaineers continue their homestand against Navy on Saturday, Jan. 26, with action at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Shell Building set to begin at 10 a.m.
