Saturday, October 26
Morgantown, W.Va.
9:00 a.m.
West Virginia University
4708
vs
4708
TCU
Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
No. 1 Mountaineers Edge No. 2 TCU
October 26, 2019 10:35 PM | Rifle
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 1-ranked West Virginia University rifle team shot an identical aggregate score of 4708 in a marquee matchup against No. 2 TCU, the reigning National Champions, on Saturday, at the WVU Rifle Range, in Morgantown.
Although the two squads had matching aggregate totals, the Mountaineers (2-0, 1-0 GARC) outshot the Horned Frogs (2-1) in center shots, 311-293, ultimately handing WVU the victory. WVU defeated TCU in air rifle, 2382-2374, but suffered a 2334-2326 setback in smallbore.
"We had a really tough match competing against the defending National Champions," 14-year coach Jon Hammond said. "After 4800 shots, we ended up tied. That's incredible. It shows they are a tough team. We are really going to have to push ourselves to get better throughout the year. It was an exciting match, and I was pleased to see everyone respond the way they did. Hopefully, we can use today's match as motivation to keep improving and keep getting better throughout the year."
Seniors Milica Babic and Morgan Phillips finished in a four-way tie for first place, with each shooter posting an aggregate total of 1181 in the match.
For the second straight match, Babic led the way in air rifle, matching her career-high score of 599 to finish first. The last time she recorded a 599 mark was against Army West Point on Nov. 5, 2017.
"Milica had a great day matching her career high," Hammond said. "It was an awesome performance, and it really helped pull us back into the match."
Additionally, Phillips matched her season-high score of 589, including a program-record 200 prone, to place first in smallbore. She also shot a season-high air rifle score of 592, earning a top-10 finish.
Freshman Akihito Shimizu and junior Sarah Osborn tied for fourth in air rifle, shooting 595s. Shimizu shot a career best in the tie, while Osborn matched her career high. The last time Osborn fired a 595 was against Coast Guard on Oct. 28, 2018.
"Akihito looked more comfortable today," Hammond said. "I think he is going to continue to improve all year. He wants to get better, and I think he is going in the right direction. Sarah also had a very strong performance in air rifle today."
Sophomore Jared Eddy tied for seventh with a season-high score of 593, while classmate Verena Zaisberger and Phillips tied for ninth with 592s to round out the Mountaineers in the air rifle top 10.
Junior David Koenders placed 12th (588), and freshman Malori Brown finished in 14th, shooting 585 for a career high. Junior Noah Barker also shot a season-high mark in air rifle (584), placing 17th overall.
In smallbore, Babic and Eddy tied for sixth with 582s, followed by Shimizu and Koenders, shooting 581s in a tie for eighth. In the tie, Shimizu posted a career-high mark.
Additionally, Barker and freshman Calista Smoyer each recorded a season high in smallbore, firing 576 and 565, respectively.
Five Mountaineers shot toward the team score in both disciplines: Babic, Eddy, Koenders, Osborn and Shimizu.
TCU was paced by Stephanie Grundsoe and Kristen Hemphill, as they each posted aggregate scores of 1181. Liz Marsh, Grundsoe and Hemphill tied for second in smallbore with 585s. Grundsoe and Hemphill also paced the Horned Frogs in air rifle with 596s to tie for second overall.
With the win, WVU improves to 7-2 all-time against the Horned Frogs.
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers hit the road for a pair of Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) matchups. West Virginia will lineup at Ole Miss on Saturday, Nov. 2, with action inside the Patricia C. Lamar National Guard Readiness Center in Oxford, Mississippi, set to begin at 9 a.m. ET. WVU closes the weekend at Memphis on Sunday, Nov. 3, with the head-to-head match set for a 9 a.m. ET start at the Fogelman Rifle Range in Memphis, Tennessee.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVURifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Although the two squads had matching aggregate totals, the Mountaineers (2-0, 1-0 GARC) outshot the Horned Frogs (2-1) in center shots, 311-293, ultimately handing WVU the victory. WVU defeated TCU in air rifle, 2382-2374, but suffered a 2334-2326 setback in smallbore.
"We had a really tough match competing against the defending National Champions," 14-year coach Jon Hammond said. "After 4800 shots, we ended up tied. That's incredible. It shows they are a tough team. We are really going to have to push ourselves to get better throughout the year. It was an exciting match, and I was pleased to see everyone respond the way they did. Hopefully, we can use today's match as motivation to keep improving and keep getting better throughout the year."
Seniors Milica Babic and Morgan Phillips finished in a four-way tie for first place, with each shooter posting an aggregate total of 1181 in the match.
For the second straight match, Babic led the way in air rifle, matching her career-high score of 599 to finish first. The last time she recorded a 599 mark was against Army West Point on Nov. 5, 2017.
"Milica had a great day matching her career high," Hammond said. "It was an awesome performance, and it really helped pull us back into the match."
Additionally, Phillips matched her season-high score of 589, including a program-record 200 prone, to place first in smallbore. She also shot a season-high air rifle score of 592, earning a top-10 finish.
Freshman Akihito Shimizu and junior Sarah Osborn tied for fourth in air rifle, shooting 595s. Shimizu shot a career best in the tie, while Osborn matched her career high. The last time Osborn fired a 595 was against Coast Guard on Oct. 28, 2018.
"Akihito looked more comfortable today," Hammond said. "I think he is going to continue to improve all year. He wants to get better, and I think he is going in the right direction. Sarah also had a very strong performance in air rifle today."
Sophomore Jared Eddy tied for seventh with a season-high score of 593, while classmate Verena Zaisberger and Phillips tied for ninth with 592s to round out the Mountaineers in the air rifle top 10.
Junior David Koenders placed 12th (588), and freshman Malori Brown finished in 14th, shooting 585 for a career high. Junior Noah Barker also shot a season-high mark in air rifle (584), placing 17th overall.
In smallbore, Babic and Eddy tied for sixth with 582s, followed by Shimizu and Koenders, shooting 581s in a tie for eighth. In the tie, Shimizu posted a career-high mark.
Additionally, Barker and freshman Calista Smoyer each recorded a season high in smallbore, firing 576 and 565, respectively.
Five Mountaineers shot toward the team score in both disciplines: Babic, Eddy, Koenders, Osborn and Shimizu.
TCU was paced by Stephanie Grundsoe and Kristen Hemphill, as they each posted aggregate scores of 1181. Liz Marsh, Grundsoe and Hemphill tied for second in smallbore with 585s. Grundsoe and Hemphill also paced the Horned Frogs in air rifle with 596s to tie for second overall.
With the win, WVU improves to 7-2 all-time against the Horned Frogs.
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers hit the road for a pair of Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) matchups. West Virginia will lineup at Ole Miss on Saturday, Nov. 2, with action inside the Patricia C. Lamar National Guard Readiness Center in Oxford, Mississippi, set to begin at 9 a.m. ET. WVU closes the weekend at Memphis on Sunday, Nov. 3, with the head-to-head match set for a 9 a.m. ET start at the Fogelman Rifle Range in Memphis, Tennessee.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVURifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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