Rifle Travels to Nebraska for Dual-Match Saturday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky rifle team looks to keep its winning ways alive Saturday as it travels to Lincoln, Nebraska for a dual-match showdown with the Cornhuskers.
Saturday’s match will feature one relay starting at 9 a.m. ET with smallbore. Air rifle will follow around 11 a.m. ET. Live targets are available at results.megalink.no with a NCAA scorecard available at ncaarifle.org.
“It’s always good to get on the road as many times as you can in the fall and get that experience under your belt,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “We have a long way to go to be at our best, but I think as a program everyone is committed to getting there. This is another step in that direction to see how we handle going on the road against an incredible team that is coached at an elite level. I am so proud of Richard and all that he is accomplishing up there. Looking forward to a fun Saturday. Go Cats!”
Kentucky is coming off a dual-match victory vs. Akron last Saturday inside Barker Hall. The Wildcats sit 3-0 on the season with wins at Georgia Southern and home vs. Akron and Murray State.
UK is averaging a 2341 in smallbore and 2381 in air rifle for a 4722 aggregate average. The Wildcats have scored two 4724 team aggregates followed by a 4718 team aggregate last week against the Zips.
Senior Braden Peiser leads Kentucky with a 589 smallbore average and 597.667 air rifle average for a 1186.667 aggregate average. Peiser has already recorded a 600 perfect air rifle score this season. Right behind him is junior Sam Adkins, who is earning a 585 smallbore average and 596.667 air rifle average for a 1181.667 aggregate average. Liz Peiser is the only other Wildcat averaging 1180 aggregate or higher with a 584 smalbore average and 596 air rifle average.
Freshmen Maggie Palfrey and Noah Abzug are having great starts to their college careers. Palfrey is earning a 583 average in smallbore and 594 average in air rifle, while Abzug is posting a 581 in smallbore and 590 in air rifle. Sophomore Jacob St. Hilaire is scoring a 580.333 in smallbore and 593 in air rifle, while fellow sophomore Elisa Boozer is earning a 572.5 in smallbore and 589 in air rifle.
Freshman Iva Rakonjac is earning a 569 in smallbore and 591 in air rifle, while junior Hannah Todd is posting a 567.5 in smallbore and 590.5 in air rifle. Freshman Briley Sralla competed for the first time last weekend, scoring a 570 in smallbore.
Nebraska is having a great season and started the year by putting up some of the biggest team aggregate scores in the nation. The Cornhuskers scored a 4743 against Akron and 4730 against Ohio State before two minor setbacks last weekend at Ole Miss and Memphis.
Maddy Moyer and Alivia Perkins lead the team by both averaging 1179 aggregates this season.
The Cornhuskers are coached by former UK All-American and national champion Richard Clark, who competed collegiately for UK and graduated from UK with multiple national championship rings.
Kentucky will return to action next weekend as they host Navy for a dual-match on Halloween. Following an off weekend, UK will travel to Morgantown, West Virginia for the WVU Fall Classic Nov. 14-15.
