Oct. 12, 2001

– The University of Kentucky rifle team opens the 2001-02 season when they travel to West Point, N.Y., to take on Army on Saturday, Oct. 13. The Cats finished the 2000-01 season as the NCAA runners-up.

Kentucky is returning seven letterwinners from last season, including its top two shooters sophomore Bradley Wheeldon and junior Crystal Hamilton. The Wildcats introduce two strong freshmen in Jeff Hamberg and Aaron Shader, who won the American Junior Championships last year. With no seniors, Kentucky’s young team will look to Hamilton and Wheeldon for leadership after to the loss of Taryn Lewis to graduation.

“We are looking pretty good,” Coach Harry Mullins said. “We have Hamilton going strong in air rifle competition again this season and (Lindsay) Meagher coming off the disabled list from a pinched nerve in her elbow. Losing one only senior from last year and adding two impressive freshmen in Shader and Hamberg, we are ready for a great season.”

The match is set to begin at 8 a.m. with smallbore competition followed by air rifle competition. Follow the Cats on the UK athletics official website, www.ukathletics.com.