Nov. 9, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – In its final home match of the fall, the University of Kentucky rifle team posted a dominating 4693-4593 victory over No. 13 Navy, increasing the Wildcats to 5-0 on the year and 3-0 in Great America Rifle Conference action.
“I felt like we had a good showing today,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “I was real happy with the way some of the shooters worked themselves out of troubled situations. It’s always good to get a win, especially over a conference opponent.”
After shooting an aggregate 1181 last weekend at TCU, senior Emily Holsopple improved one point with an 1182 aggregate. The senior opened the morning with a team-best 589 in smallbore, tying her season best in the event.
Sophomore Connor Davis increased his smallbore score seven points against last week’s performance, shooting a 585. Freshman Sonya May added to Kentucky’s smallbore score with a 580. Junior Jonathan Pinkel notched a new personal best in smallbore with a 583.
“Emily and Connor both had a really solid day in both guns,” Mullins said. “Each breaking 1180 aggregate individually is big for us. I was proud to see Jon Pinkel shoot a new personal best in smallbore, demonstrating how hard he has been working recently.”
Kentucky opened it up in standing, shooting a 761 to Navy’s 733, giving the Wildcats a 2328-2280 lead entering air rifle.
A steady force in air rifle, Davis led the team in air rifle for the fourth time this year, shooting a 595, his third 595 this season. Emily Holsopple finished two points behind Davis in air rifle with a 593, beating her 591.8 air rifle average on the year.
Freshman Heather Kirby continued her steady air rifle performance, shooting a 589 for the third time this season.
Junior Elijah Ellis has his best air rifle performance of the season on Saturday morning, recording a 588.
May shot a 586 in air rifle to bring her aggregate score to 1166. Davis’ 585 in smallbore and 595 in air rifle added up to an aggregate score of 1180.
“We still need to work a little more in some of our positions to avoid giving up some of the points we are losing right now,” Mullins said. “I’m encourage though because the work the team has put in to this point has been very strong.”
Kentucky outshot the Midshipmen 2365-2313 in air rifle to bring the aggregate score to 4693-4591.
Kentucky will take a week off and prepare to travel to Alaska the following weekend to face top-ranked Alaska-Fairbanks.
“I feel that with two more weeks of training before our next match we can really work on getting ourselves to a place we want to be,” Mullins said. “We’re going to get to work and hopefully put forth a few solid performances before we go into the break.”
