No. 1 UK Rifle Hosts Kentucky Long Rifle Match Saturday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 1 University of Kentucky rifle team returns to the Barker Hall Rifle Range on Saturday as it plays host to Murray State and Morehead State for the annual Kentucky Long Rifle Match.
 
The Kentucky Long Rifle Match brings together the three NCAA Division I rifle programs from the Commonwealth, as Kentucky is the only state in the country with three collegiate teams. The match will utilize a unique format, aggregating the scores from six shooters instead of the five designated squad members for smallbore and air rifle commonly used within NCAA competition. The scores from the five squad designees will still be recorded from this match for NCAA qualifying purposes.
 
The winning team will be awarded the Kentucky Long Rifle trophy, which has been hand engraved to honor all the teams involved.
 
Last season, the Wildcats took home the trophy posting an 8200. Morehead State finished second at 8082 while Murray was third at 8078. The Wildcats have already faced the Eagles and Racers this season. UK and Morehead State met virtually on Oct. 17, while last weekend the Wildcats shined in their first true road match of the season at Murray. Morehead State is No. 16 in the latest Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association Top 20 and Murray State is No. 6.
 
Kentucky (5-0) moved up to No. 1 in the CRCA rankings earlier this week after earning an aggregate team score of 4735, which set a new school record. The strong performance included a 2358 smallbore team score, which was a new school record, and a season-high 2377 air rifle team score. The high overall team score is the best in the nation so far this season, while the 2358 smallbore team score is the second highest in the nation. UK has earned the two highest air rifle team scores in the nation this fall with a 2369 vs. NC State on Oct. 31 and the 2377 last weekend.
 
Individually, the Wildcats have been paced by junior Will Shaner and sophomore Mary Tucker, who have each put together strong starts to the season. In smallbore, there have been seven individual scores of 590 or better this season nationally with Shaner and Tucker each earning two of those high marks. Shaner posted a career-best 595 in smallbore last weekend at Murray, which is the highest smallbore score in the nation this season. The two stars have been just as impressive in air rifle, as Tucker owns the only two 599 scores in the nation this season while Shaner is one of three athletes nationally to score 598 or better.
 
Overall, the entire UK roster has performed well in the two in-person matches this season. Junior Richard Clark is averaging 582.5 in smallbore and 585 in air rifle, while fellow junior Mitchell Nelson has a season average of 578 in smallbore and 583 in air rifle. Sophomore Emmie Sellers and Jaden Thompson are having strong seasons with Sellers averaging 573 in smallbore and 587 in air rifle while Thompson has the third highest air rifle average on the team at 589 with a 570.5 in smallbore. Senior Hailee Sigmon has the fourth highest smallbore average on the team at 581.5 along with a 575 in air rifle. Sophomore Mason Hamilton is averaging a 573.5 in smallbore and 578 in air rifle, while senior Mason Joachim is earning a 572 average in smallbore and 579 in air rifle.
 
The Kentucky Long Rifle Match is the last home match of the fall season for Kentucky, who will conclude the 2020 fall slate next Saturday at Navy.
 
For the latest on the Kentucky rifle team, follow @UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.