Rifle Hosts Akron for Two-Relay Dual-Match Saturday at Barker Hall
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Another fun Saturday is in store at Barker Hall as the University of Kentucky rifle team will play host to Akron for a two-relay dual-match starting at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Saturday’s dual match will feature two relays. The first relay will begin with sights and prep for smallbore at 8:15 a.m. ET with competition shots starting at 8:30 a.m. ET. First relay air rifle will start at approx. 10:30 a.m. ET with the second relay getting underway with smallbore around 12:30 p.m. ET. The day will conclude with second relay air rifle around 2:30 p.m. ET.
Fans are welcome to attend the match and enjoy free breakfast starting at 8:15 a.m. and then can move down to the range to watch air rifle at approx. 10:30 a.m. ET. Fans can watch the smallbore action upstairs in Barker Hall.
Saturday’s match will be live streamed at youtube.com/@UKSportsVideo and on UK Rifle’s Facebook page with former UK All-American Billy Azzinaro providing live commentary. Live targets are available at results.megalink.no with a NCAA scorecard available at ncaarifle.org.
“We saw some really good things last week and I am excited that we get to come back a week later at home and see what further improvements we can make,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “This is a young team that is growing every time we step in the range and that is what you want to see as a coach this early in the season. I think shooting two relays Saturday will be good experience for the first time for some of our players as well. I hope Big Blue Nation can come out and support us. Go Cats!”
Kentucky improved to 2-0 last weekend with a dual-match victory over Murray State inside Barker Hall. The Wildcats posted a 4724 team score for the second straight week, defeating Murray State by 22 points. It was senior Braden Peiser that led the way for Kentucky, scoring a perfect 600 score in air rifle, finishing as the top individual with a 1192 aggregate. Freshman Maggie Palfrey scored a career-best 597 in air rifle and finished third overall with 1180 aggregate, while sophomore Jacob St. Hilaire posted a career-best 597 air rifle as well and finish fourth overall with a 1179 aggregate.
As a team through two matches, Kentucky is averaging a 2341 in smallbore and 2383 in air rifle for a 4724 team aggregate average. That aggregate average is good for fifth nationally. Peiser leads Kentucky with a 1188.5 aggregate average, while junior Sam Adkins is second with a 1181 aggregate average and Liz Peiser is third with a 1179 aggregate average. Palfrey has a 1178 aggregate average with St. Hilaire behind her at 1175. Freshman Noah Abzug is having a good first season with a 1168.5 average.
Junior Hanna Todd, sophomore Elisa Boozer and freshman Iva Rakonjac each competed for the first time last week. Todd scored a 1159, while Boozer posted a 1156 and Rakonjac a 1160. Senior Emily Marne and freshman Briley Sralla have not competed yet this season.
Akron has competed twice already this season, earning a 4673 in a loss at Nebraska and 4674 in a loss vs. Navy.
Following Saturday’s match, Kentucky will be back in action next Saturday vs. Akron inside Barker Hall. Finalized time for sights and prep will be announced next week.
