Saturday, January 14
Fairbanks, Alaska
12 p.m.
West Virginia University
4751
at
4752
Alaska-Fairbanks
West Virginia Ties National Record
January 14, 2023 09:40 PM | Rifle
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 5-ranked West Virginia University rifle team earned second in a four team match against No. 2 Alaska-Fairbanks, No. 3 Kentucky and No. 16 Georgia Southern.
"I'm really proud of the team today," coach Jon Hammond said. "They put in a really great performance and were really professional in everything they did."
The Nanooks (10-0, 4-0 PRC) and Mountaineers (12-3, 6-0 GARC) were separated by only one point, with Alaska-Fairbanks claiming victory, 4,752-4,751. WVU led all teams in smallbore with 2,371 points. Alaska-Fairbanks claimed first in air rifle with a score of 2,386. West Virginia's smallbore score tied a national record, while the aggregate score tied a school record.
"Our smallbore was excellent," Hammond said. "We had some big personal bests and tying the national record is a reflection of the performance."
West Virginia defeated the Wildcats 4,751-4,726, while the Mountaineers beat Georgia Southern 4,751-4,658. WVU claimed both disciplines against both opponents, outshooting Kentucky 2,371-2,352 in smallbore and 2,380-2,374 in air rifle. Georgia Southern shot a 2,301 in smallbore and a 2,357 in air rifle.
"We had more really good scores in air rifle and, overall, tied our school record from last semester," Hammond said.
Senior Mary Tucker led the match for the Mountaineers with a 1,193 overall, including a 594 in smallbore and a 599 in air rifle. Tucker tied for first on the individual match leaderboard.
Outside of Tucker, three additional Mountaineers finished inside the top 10 of the individual match leaderboard. Senior Malori Brown followed Tucker for WVU, finishing fourth with an aggregate score of 1,189. Brown notched a 595 and 594 in smallbore and air rifle, respectively. Her smallbore and aggregate scores are good enough for career bests for the China Spring, Texas, native.
Brown's classmate Akihito Shimizu and junior Matt Sanchez tied for seventh for West Virginia. Shimizu shot a 594 in smallbore and a 590 in air rifle for an aggregate score of 1,184. The 594 points in smallbore is good enough for a career best. Sanchez checked in with an aggregate score of 1,184, earning a 588 in smallbore and 596 in air rifle.
"It's bittersweet losing by just one point, but we can't be unhappy with the match," Hammond said. "It's probably the highest score to ever lose a match, but that's the nature of the competition right now. UAF and TCU are shooting at a really high level, and we have to keep pushing to get better and better, which we will."
West Virginia returns to action in Columbus, Ohio, against No. 11 Ohio State on Saturday, Jan. 21.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVURifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
"I'm really proud of the team today," coach Jon Hammond said. "They put in a really great performance and were really professional in everything they did."
The Nanooks (10-0, 4-0 PRC) and Mountaineers (12-3, 6-0 GARC) were separated by only one point, with Alaska-Fairbanks claiming victory, 4,752-4,751. WVU led all teams in smallbore with 2,371 points. Alaska-Fairbanks claimed first in air rifle with a score of 2,386. West Virginia's smallbore score tied a national record, while the aggregate score tied a school record.
"Our smallbore was excellent," Hammond said. "We had some big personal bests and tying the national record is a reflection of the performance."
West Virginia defeated the Wildcats 4,751-4,726, while the Mountaineers beat Georgia Southern 4,751-4,658. WVU claimed both disciplines against both opponents, outshooting Kentucky 2,371-2,352 in smallbore and 2,380-2,374 in air rifle. Georgia Southern shot a 2,301 in smallbore and a 2,357 in air rifle.
"We had more really good scores in air rifle and, overall, tied our school record from last semester," Hammond said.
Senior Mary Tucker led the match for the Mountaineers with a 1,193 overall, including a 594 in smallbore and a 599 in air rifle. Tucker tied for first on the individual match leaderboard.
Outside of Tucker, three additional Mountaineers finished inside the top 10 of the individual match leaderboard. Senior Malori Brown followed Tucker for WVU, finishing fourth with an aggregate score of 1,189. Brown notched a 595 and 594 in smallbore and air rifle, respectively. Her smallbore and aggregate scores are good enough for career bests for the China Spring, Texas, native.
Brown's classmate Akihito Shimizu and junior Matt Sanchez tied for seventh for West Virginia. Shimizu shot a 594 in smallbore and a 590 in air rifle for an aggregate score of 1,184. The 594 points in smallbore is good enough for a career best. Sanchez checked in with an aggregate score of 1,184, earning a 588 in smallbore and 596 in air rifle.
"It's bittersweet losing by just one point, but we can't be unhappy with the match," Hammond said. "It's probably the highest score to ever lose a match, but that's the nature of the competition right now. UAF and TCU are shooting at a really high level, and we have to keep pushing to get better and better, which we will."
West Virginia returns to action in Columbus, Ohio, against No. 11 Ohio State on Saturday, Jan. 21.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVURifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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Jon Hammond | Thursday
Thursday, September 30
Life as a Mountaineer - Jared Eddy
Wednesday, March 24
Jon Hammond | Thursday
Thursday, January 14
