Tucker Wins Overall Crown, Wildcats Finish Second at GARCs
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky sophomore Mary Tucker took home the top individual honor earning an aggregate score of 1189, while the No. 2 Wildcats posted a 4700 overall to finish second on the final day of the Great America Rifle Conference Championships.
“I am very proud of the way the team battled this weekend,” said UK head coach Harry Mullins. “It was a very challenging match and I think we will take a lot away from this. Now we need to get back to using what we learned to move to the next match. Having three of the top four teams in the country in the GARC makes the task to win this championship daunting. We cannot be disappointed in where we finished, but rather focus on what we learned so that we can move forward. I am very excited for Mary to win smallbore and the over tournament championship. When you combine that with our regular season awards, I feel good about the direction the team is moving.”
Tucker, who claimed the top spot in smallbore Saturday with a 592, posted a 597 in air rifle Sunday to post an overall aggregate score of 1189. The high mark was three more than anyone else in the event, crowning her the top individual champion. Tucker was also the top individual champion at last year’s GARC Championships.
As a team, Kentucky fired a 2362 in air rifle to end the event with a 4700 overall team score and finish in second place. West Virginia took home the championship with a 4727.
In air rifle, junior Richard Clark posted a 590, while junior Will Shaner and sophomore Emmie Sellers earned 588s. Senior Mason Joachim and sophomore Jaden Thompson posted 587s, while senior Hailee Sigmon earned a 586 and junior Mitchell Nelson a 581. Sophomore Mason Hamilton scored a 569.
Earlier this week, Kentucky qualified for its 27th NCAA Rifle Championships. The championships will be held at Converse Hall in Columbus, Ohio, on March 12-13.
For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
