Feb. 8, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The fifth-ranked Kentucky rifle team fell at the hands of top-ranked West Virginia, 4677-4663, on Saturday inside Buell Armory.
With the win, West Virginia (11-1, 8-0 Great American Rifle Conference) claimed the GARC Regular Season Championship. Kentucky dropped to 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the GARC.
West Virginia led 2320-2307 after smallbore. The Mountaineers pulled away with a 2357 air rifle score, compared with UK’s 2356 air rifle total.
“Overall I felt that we handled the problems we have been facing in previous matches well,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “But, this time we made errors that cost us a lot of points. You are never happy after a loss, yet I feel the team members will walk away from this learning something about themselves to help them moving forward.”
Connor Davis led UK in smallbore with a 581, while Jason Sharbel was UK’s No. 2 squad finisher with a 577. Jonathan Pinkel totaled a 575, Elijah Ellis posted 574 and Heather Kirby scored 566.
Kirby and Davis were UK’s top air rifle competitors with a 592s. Sharbel posted a 587, Ellis totaled 585 and Pinkel scored 584.
Kentucky will return to action at home in two weeks with the NCAA Qualifiers.
