LEXINGTON, Ky. – The 2006 edition of the Kentucky rifle team fired off to a good start in its season-opening match against Ohio State, Memphis and Xavier, placing first with a total score of 4631.

“Overall the match went well,” Mullins said. “We did not shoot the numbers that we wanted to in air rifle but I feel that in time we will be right where we expect to be. We have had some good training matches in air rifle and I feel that with a little more time it will come. The team worked real hard and the season looks very bright.”

The Wildcats were led by several newcomers, including Thomas Csenge and Jen Pason. Pason won the individual title, with a 1169 total score (585 air rifle, 584 smallbore). In her first match as a collegian, Pason performed splendidly narrowly edging out two other Wildcats for the title.

Finishing second was Csenge, a promising freshman shooter with a total score of 1160. Kentucky co-captain Amy Sowash finished third with a 1156 total, leading a group of five Wildcats in the top 10.

Kentucky returns to action next weekend when it travels to Oxford, Miss. to face off with Great American Rifle Conference power Ole Miss and Jacksonville State.