WEST POINT, N.Y. — Despite an outstanding performance from sophomore Ashley Jackson, the Kentucky rifle team could not overcome a sluggish smallbore start, finishing fifth at the 2007-08 NCAA Rifle Championships, over the weekend in Christl Arena.
?While I am proud of this team for its work ethic and dedication, I was disappointed with our finish and overall performance at the NCAA Championships,? Kentucky head coach Harry Mullins said. ?We have a talented team and our performance did not meet our expectations, but there were still some individual performances that were noteworthy. We need to continue to work hard and improve upon our quest to win a national championship.?
Hosted by Army, Alaska-Fairbanks notched its third NCAA Championship in as many years, riding a stellar air rifle total that saw three of its shooters land NCAA individual honors. UK did not place any shooter among the top eight individual honors.
Jackson thrived in a new pressure-filled role as lineup closer at the championship, posting a team-high 580 in smallbore and a 582 in air rifle. Tom Csenge posted a 581 and Jen Pason finished with a 585 in air rifle. Senior Ray Geyer tallied a 577 in air rifle and Andrew Roland finished with a 571 in smallbore.
?I was really proud of Leslie Angeli, Jake Savitts and Ashley Jackson for stepping up in new roles,? Mullins said. ?Leslie and Jake both qualified individually and performed well to be on that stage for the first time. Ashley was thrust into a pressure-packed situation and put up consistently good scores.?
Jake Savitts posted a 574 in smallbore and Leslie Angeli finished with a 574 in air rifle, as the duo that qualified individually made up what was a nation-high number of qualifiers.
The fifth-place finish is UK?s 14th top-10 finish in the last 15 years, with the Wildcats placing fourth a year ago.
Two-Day Aggregate Team Scores (smallbore / air rifle) 1. 4662, Alaska-Fairbanks (2312 / 2350) 2. 4652, Army (2318 / 2334) 3. 4627, TCU (2312 / 2315) 4. 4625, Nebraska (2308 / 2317) 5. 4623, Kentucky (2298 / 2325) 6. 4616, West Virginia (2305 / 2311) 7. 4610, Navy (2268 / 2342) 8. 4591, Nevada (2257 / 2334) Air Rifle Team Scores 1. 2350, Alaska-Fairbanks 2. 2342, Navy T-3. 2334, Army T-3. 2334, Nevada 5. 2325, Kentucky 6. 2317, Nebraska 7. 2315, TCU 8. 2311, West Virginia Air Rifle Individual Finals (team / finals) 1. 696.4, Patrik Sartz, Alaska-Fairbanks (594 / 102.4) 2. 693.9, Josh Albrigh Navy (591 / 102.9) 3. 693.8, Christofer Olofsson, Alaska-Fairbanks (592 / 101.8) 4. 693.3, Lisa Kunzelman, Navy (592 / 101.3) 5. 690.2, Stephen Scherer, Army (587 / 103.2) 6. 688.3, Cody Rutter, Alaska-Fairbanks (586 / 102.3) 7. 686.5, Sarah Smith, Nevada (587 / 99.5) 8. 686.4, Andrew Hickey, Nevada (586 / 100.4)
