Mountaineers, Hammond Earn Honors
March 11, 2019 01:04 PM | Rifle
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Five from the West Virginia University rifle team earned a combined 11 All-America honors following the 2019 NCAA National Championships.
Additionally, coach Jon Hammond was named the College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) co-Coach of the Year.
"I'm really proud of the team this year and all the work they did throughout the season," Hammond said. "They worked really hard as a unit, and it's always nice to earn individual accolades, too. Five All-Americans from one team really shows how strong this group was."
Senior Ginny Thrasher and sophomore David Koenders each collected three accolades. Thrasher, a native of Springfield, Virginia, was named to the National Rifle Association (NRA) All-America First Team Air Rifle and Smallbore. She also was named the CRCA All-America First Team. Koenders, a native of Mossautal, Germany, landed on the NRA All-America Second Team Air Rifle and Smallbore, as well as the CRCA All-America Third Team.
The 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist for women's 10m air rifle, Thrasher graduates from WVU with 12 All-America awards; all but one honor were first-team accolades.
"It's very special to be an eight-time NRA All-American – not many people achieve that," Hammond said. "The CRCA All-America awards have not been around for too long, so she's also one of the few who can say she is a 12-time All-American. It's another accolade on a long list for Ginny, and these awards show what an amazing contribution she made to WVU rifle in her four years."
Koenders' career collection stands at six.
Junior Milica Babic was named to the NRA All-America First Team Air Rifle, and classmate Morgan Phillips was named to the NRA All-America First Team Smallbore. Each has been named to her respective first team every season at WVU. Babic also was named to the CRCA All-America Honorable Mention Team.
Babic shows eight career honors, while Phillips' career total stands at six.
Sophomore Sarah Osborn garnered her first career accolades and was named to the NRA All-America Second Team Smallbore and the CRCA All-America Honorable Mention.
Hammond, who led the Mountaineers to a 13-0 record in his 13th season at WVU, earned his third career CRCA Coach of the Year accolade and first since 2013. He shared this season's honor with Akron's Newt Engle.
The Mountaineers finished second at the 2019 NCAA Rifle Championships March 9 with a score of 4692, shot at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Coliseum.
Additionally, coach Jon Hammond was named the College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) co-Coach of the Year.
"I'm really proud of the team this year and all the work they did throughout the season," Hammond said. "They worked really hard as a unit, and it's always nice to earn individual accolades, too. Five All-Americans from one team really shows how strong this group was."
Senior Ginny Thrasher and sophomore David Koenders each collected three accolades. Thrasher, a native of Springfield, Virginia, was named to the National Rifle Association (NRA) All-America First Team Air Rifle and Smallbore. She also was named the CRCA All-America First Team. Koenders, a native of Mossautal, Germany, landed on the NRA All-America Second Team Air Rifle and Smallbore, as well as the CRCA All-America Third Team.
The 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist for women's 10m air rifle, Thrasher graduates from WVU with 12 All-America awards; all but one honor were first-team accolades.
"It's very special to be an eight-time NRA All-American – not many people achieve that," Hammond said. "The CRCA All-America awards have not been around for too long, so she's also one of the few who can say she is a 12-time All-American. It's another accolade on a long list for Ginny, and these awards show what an amazing contribution she made to WVU rifle in her four years."
Koenders' career collection stands at six.
Junior Milica Babic was named to the NRA All-America First Team Air Rifle, and classmate Morgan Phillips was named to the NRA All-America First Team Smallbore. Each has been named to her respective first team every season at WVU. Babic also was named to the CRCA All-America Honorable Mention Team.
Babic shows eight career honors, while Phillips' career total stands at six.
Sophomore Sarah Osborn garnered her first career accolades and was named to the NRA All-America Second Team Smallbore and the CRCA All-America Honorable Mention.
Hammond, who led the Mountaineers to a 13-0 record in his 13th season at WVU, earned his third career CRCA Coach of the Year accolade and first since 2013. He shared this season's honor with Akron's Newt Engle.
The Mountaineers finished second at the 2019 NCAA Rifle Championships March 9 with a score of 4692, shot at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Coliseum.
Players Mentioned
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
A Conversation with Wren Baker
Monday, December 05
Jon Hammond | Thursday
Thursday, September 30
Life as a Mountaineer - Jared Eddy
Wednesday, March 24
Jon Hammond | Thursday
Thursday, January 14
