March 14, 2003

WEST POINT, N.Y. – University of Kentucky junior Bradley Wheeldon fell just shy of individual rifle event titles Friday at the 2003 NCAA Rifle Championships in West Point, N.Y.

Wheeldon, the lone Rifle Cat to qualify for individual championship competition, opened the day with the air rifle event. Wheeldon’s 393 out of a possible 400 was two points below the winning score posted by Jamie Beyerle and one point behind the runner-up, Per Sandberg, both from four-time defending NCAA Champion Alaska-Fairbanks.

Wheeldon followed his third-place effort in air rifle with a runner-up finish in the three-position smallbore event. His 399 in prone, 389 in standing and 395 in kneeling for an aggregate of 1183 fell eight points shy of the 1191 posted by Matt Emmons of Alaska-Fairbanks, who has now won the smallbore event two consecutive years.

Kentucky Coach Harry Mullins is pleased by the effort displayed by his All-American.

“Bradley turned in quite a showing today, and I couldn’t be more proud of him. He was beaten today by proven competitors, and I know he’ll take something from this to benefit him next season,” Mullins said.

Kentucky will take another shot at national titles Saturday. The Rifle Cats will have opportunities to win team smallbore and air rifle championships, as well as a chance to win an NCAA title for the best overall team score. UK has finished as the NCAA runner-up the last two seasons to Alaska-Fairbanks.

AGATE:

Air Rifle1.Jamie Beyerle, Alaska-Fairbanks – 3952.Per Sandberg, Alaska-Fairbanks – 3943.Bradley Wheeldon, Kentucky – 393

Smallbore1.Matt Emmons, Alaska-Fairbanks – 11912.Bradley Wheeldon, Kentucky – 11833.Jamie Beyerle, Alaska-Fairbanks – 1182