OXFORD, Miss. — Behind strong performances from Henri Junghänel, Heather Greathouse and Stacy Wheatley, the Kentucky rifle team posted a 4691-4593 win over the Memphis Tigers, setting a new school-record total score, on Friday at the Ole Miss Patricia C. Lamar Army National Guard Readiness Center.
Kentucky (8-1) finished with a 4691 in the match, setting a new school-record team score.
“I am really excited about the team record,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “Memphis is a good team and provided some tough competition to help pace our performance today. Really proud the team had 10 of 12 shooters score a 582 or above in air rifle, which shows the balance and depth of the team. We are excited to get back out on the range tomorrow.”
UK got a strong outing from Greathouse, who totaled a 592 in air rifle and a 581 in smallbore, setting a new personal-high in the combined categories. Henri Junghänel finished with team-highs in smallbore (587) and air rifle (595), totaling a 195 in smallbore-prone. All told, 10 of UK’s 12-shooter roster had a 582 or above in the match.
“As a coach, it makes you feel good to have 10 out of 12 hit that 580 mark,” Mullins said. “The team is working hard and I think we can achieve our goal of getting the whole team to break 580, as long as we keep working hard and stay true to ourselves.”
Freshman Emily Holsopple finished with a 591 in air rifle, while senior Logan Fox finished with a 587 in air rifle and a 581 in smallbore – including a 196 in standing. Ed Ryznar charted a 588 in air rifle, while Megan English totaled a 574 in smallbore and a 585 in air rifle. Ethan Settlemires totaled a 587 in air rifle and Senior Sarah Broeker charted a season-high 570 in smallbore.
“Henri’s record is a great performance, it is just a continuation of the hard work that he has done,” Mullins said. “We have been excited to have him as a part of our team and he brings a new and consistent dynamic to the team. And Stacy’s performance was very strong. For someone who just started shooting smallbore to shoot a 584 on a road range shows her talent and work ethic. She has been knocking on the 580 pace the last few matches and I was really proud of her to pull it through in kneeling. She is starting to get confidence in her smallbore and consistent performances in air rifle.
“Heather was almost a ditto of Wheatley’s performance. She had put in a lot of hard work put into the range the past summer, she has been following her training plans and staying consistent. She is showing she is a strong and talented athlete. We knew she had it in her last year but being a freshman is challenging. Now that she has a year of college under her belt we are going to see great things from her future.”
Sophomore Heather Greathouse Interview (posted on January 21, at 10:29 p.m. ET)
Sophomore Ed Ryznar Interview (posted on January 21, at 10:32 p.m. ET)
Sophomore Stacy Wheatley (posted on January 21, at 10:35 p.m. ET)
