Kentucky Scores Season-High 4727, Defeats Navy
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Behind its best smallbore team score of the season, which was one of the highest marks in the nation this season, the University of Kentucky rifle team secured its highest aggregate team score of the season at 4727 to defeat Navy in a dual match Saturday inside Barker Hall in on a beautiful fall day in Lexington, Kentucky.
Kentucky started the match by shinning in smallbore, earning a team score of 2355, which was its best of the season and one of the best in the nation this year. The Wildcats followed with a 2372 in air rifle to post a 4727 team score. The high aggregate team score was Kentucky’s highest of the season and one of the highest in the nation this year. Navy scored a 2331 in smallbore and 2361 in air rifle for a 4692 aggregate.
“Happy with the performance today overall. Some really good individual performances from some veterans and some newcomers, which was good to see,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “I am happy with the progress I have seen from the team this year since the start. We are making improvements and taking the right steps forward. Next week will be another big test, but looking forward to getting on the road and seeing what we can do.”
Kentucky performed well to start in the first smallbore relay, getting 592 scores from both sophomore Braden Peiser and junior Sofia Ceccarello. Peiser earned a 198 in kneeling, 199 in prone and 195 in standing with 36 total centers, while Ceccarello posted a 196 in kneeling, 200 in prone and 196 in standing with 39 total centers. Junior Martin Voss performed well, earning a 588 in smallbore behind a perfect 200 in prone. He also had a 194 in kneeling and standing with 35 total centers. Freshman Liz Probst scored a 584 in smallbore with a 195 in kneeling, 197 standing and 192 standing with 25 total centers. Wrapping the first relay was freshman Sam Adkins and senior Allison Buesseler. Adkins scored a 584, earning a 192 in kneeling, 199 in prone and 193 in standing with 31 total centers. Buesseler posted a 581 with a 194 in kneeling, 197 in standing and 190 in standing with 25 centers.
The Wildcats posted a 2372 air rifle team score to secure the win in the match. Adkins led Kentucky with a 598 score, which was a personal best. Adkins had four perfect sets of 100 during the match and hit 48 centers. He ended with a 1182 aggregate. Ceccarello posted a 597 in air rifle, ending the match with four perfect 100 sets and scoring a match-best 54 centers. Peiser had a 593 with 40 centers, while Voss scored a 592 with 42 centers with three perfect 100 sets. Probst also scored in the 590s in air rifle with a 590 exactly, including 44 centers. Buesseler wrapped up the scoring with a 579, earning 33 centers.
In the second relay, freshman Brandon Evans led Kentucky with a 575 score and 29 centers. Evans had a 190 in kneeling, perfect 200 in prone and 185 in standing. Junior AJ Hotko scored a 583 with 22 centers, including a 198 in kneeling, 196 in prone and 187 in standing. Sophomore Emily Marne scored a 548 with 14 centers with 184 in kneeling, 189 in prone and 175 in standing. Freshman Hannah Todd scored a 547 with 10 centers, earning a 175 in kneeling, 189 in prone and 183 in standing.
In the second air rifle relay, Hotko posted an impressive 593, which tied his career high in the discipline. Todd scored a 577 in air rifle, while Evans posted a 582 and Marne scored a 580.
Navy was led in the match by Isabella Baldwin, who scored a 584 in smallbore and 598 in air rifle for a 1182 aggregate. Marleigh Duncan was right behind her with a 585 smallbore and 589 air rifle for a 1174 aggregate.
Kentucky will travel next weekend to Ole Miss for a dual match. After a week off, UK wraps the fall portion of the schedule with three competitions across eight days starting with a home tri-match with Army and Murray State on Nov. 16. The following weekend UK travels to Colorado Springs, Colorado for two matches beginning Nov. 23 vs. Akron and ending Nov. 24 vs. Air Force and Akron.
The NCAA Rifle Championships return to Lexington for the first time since 2020. The two-day event will see the best air rifle and smallbore competitors in the nation compete on the historic Memorial Coliseum floor. The smallbore competition will be March 14 followed by air rifle competition on March 15. Ticket information and full schedule of events for the championships will be announced later.
For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
