FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Led by a career-best performance from freshman Tom Csenge, the Kentucky rifle team finished fourth in the NCAA Championships after the final day of competition in Fairbanks, Alaska Saturday.
Kentucky?s national championship bid came up just short, as the Wildcats posted a 2337 score in air rifle competition to round out a total team score of 4636 after the conclusion of the two-day competition. The Wildcats entered the final day of competition in third place, just one point behind Army and nine points from Alaska-Fairbanks. Alaska-Fairbanks took home the trophy with a 4662 and Army (4644) and Jacksonville State (4639) followed in second and third.
?I am very proud of this team and the effort and hard work they have put into this season,? Kentucky head coach Harry Mullins said. ?They fought real hard today and worked to their capabilities and did everything they could. Overall, we can?t be disappointed because we had a chance to win the national championship on the final day of the season.?
Csenge led off the Wildcat lineup Saturday, shooting a career-high 590 in air rifle, to finish seventh among all competitors. Senior Amy Sowash, shooting in her final collegiate match, posted a 586. Rounding out the three freshmen in the four-shooter UK lineup were Jen Pason, who finished with a 579, and Ashley Jackson, who finished with a 582.
?Hat?s off to Alaska-Fairbanks, Army, and Jacksonville State, those are two amazing teams with some real good shooters,? Mullins said. ?We are very happy with where we placed and enjoyed the opportunity to compete with the nation?s top teams at the big-time national scale.?
The fourth-place finish was Kentucky?s best since placing second in 2002. A year ago, UK finished seventh. Kentucky has finished in the top-10 in 12 consecutive seasons.
The match concludes the season for the Kentucky rifle team, who earlier this season captured both the Great American Rifle Conference regular season and championship crowns. UK went undefeated during regular season conference action, with the lone blemish on the slate coming at the hands of back-to-back national champion Alaska-Fairbanks.
?I am so proud to have coached this team all year,? Mullins said. ?Their work ethic and passion made this team a joy to coach and the future looks bright for the team. We will get at it during the offseason and continue to build upon an already excellent rifle tradition at Kentucky.?
