Rifle Posts Season-Best Team Score, Falls to Nebraska at Army West Point
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky rifle team posted its best team score of the season Saturday, earning a 4747 score but fell just two points shy of Nebraska, who scored a 4749 and won the tri-match at Army West Point.
The Wildcats posted a 2361 in smallbore and had the best team air rifle score of the match with a 2386. Nebraska shined in smallbore with a 2364, following with a 2385 in air rifle for the victory. Host Army West Point posted a 2337 in smallbore and 2348 in air rifle for a 4685.
Nebraska’s smallbore team score is the best in the nation this season, while Kentucky’s is the second best. Both teams performed well Saturday as the team aggregate scores are also the best and second-best in the nation. Nebraska is coached by former UK All-American Richard Clark.
Kentucky will stay in the northeast tonight and compete tomorrow in a quad match against Nebraska, Norwich and Mount Aloysius. Sights and prep are scheduled to begin around 8 a.m. ET for smallbore and 10:30 a.m. ET for air rifle.
Live targets can be found at UKathletics.com. NCAArifle.org will have a live scorecard for the match and final results.
Junior Braden Peiser was Kentucky’s top finisher at the match with a 1192 aggregate, finishing second overall individually. Nebraska’s Emma Rhode earned the top spot with a 1194 aggregate. Sam Adkins finished third overall with a 1188 aggregate and Sofia Ceccarello was fourth with a 1186 aggregate.
Peiser scored a 595 in smallbore, followed by a career-best 591 from Adkins and a 590 from Ceccarello. Sophomore Liz Probst scored a 585, while Brandon Evans scored a 579 and Martin Voss a 575. Freshmen Eliza Boozer and Jacob St. Hilaire scored a 571 and 575, respectively, while Hannah Todd posted a 573.
In air rifle, Pesier and Adkins scored 597s, while Ceccarello and Boozer each scored a 596. Evans posted a 594, while Probst and St. Hilaire scored 593s. Voss and Todd wrapped up the scoring with 590 and 586, respectively.
Kentucky will be off next weekend before hosting its first dual match of the season at the UK Rifle Range against Memphis on Nov. 8.
For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com.
