LINCOLN, Neb. — Boosted by match-high scores from its entire smallbore starting lineup, the Kentucky rifle team notched a 4662-4651 win over the two-time defending NCAA Champion Alaska-Fairbanks, on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.
?Overall, I am really happy with the way our team preformed against a very good team,? Kentucky head coach Harry Mullins said. ?You have to feel good after your team comes off the road winning two matches against good competition. They really worked hard as a group, they had plenty of chances to slip and fall but they dug in deep and pulled out a win against the defending national champions.?
Alaska-Fairbanks (3-1) is widely regarded as one of the top programs in the nation, leading all NCAA participants with nine NCAA titles (1994, 1999-2004, 2006 and 2007).The Wildcats had its four-shooter smallbore lineup go toe to toe with the powerhouse, finishing as the top four in its match with the Nanooks.
?We will see both Alaska-Fairbanks and Nebraska at the NCAA Championships,? Mullins said. ?This win really builds confidence because the team really executed and worked collectively as a team to win.?
Andrew Roland started for UK?s smallbore lineup, posting a team-best 585. Ray Geyer, a senior co-captain, was the definition of consistency posting a 583 smallbore and 584 air rifle score. Sophomore Tom Csenge posted a team-high 589 air rifle score, coming up just two points shy of the match leader Christopher Olofsson?s 592. Csenge also finished with a 577 smallbore total. Jen Pason, the 2006 Great American Rifle Conference Rookie of the Year, tied Csenge for second in air rifle, notching a 589. Ashley Jackson also finished strong, starting in the air rifle lineup and posting a solid 581.
UK got good performances from the rest of the team, as Leslie Angeli tallied a 577 in air rifle, Clint Sejkora notched a 573 in air rifle, Sarah Broeker posted a 581 air rifle score, and Logan Fox scored a 577 in air rifle.
?The whole team worked real hard today,? Mullins said. ?Sarah broke 580 for the second consecutive day, so I am really happy about that. Logan shot in the high 570s, along with Clint and Leslie. We have built a lot of depth and have some really good shooters emerging on the team. We definitely had some highlights today.?
Last season, Alaska-Fairbanks pulled off a narrow nine-point victory over the then-undefeated Wildcats. The loss proved to be the only regular season blemish for UK, as it?s went undefeated in conference play to secure the regular season GARC crown. The Wildcats finished the 2006-07 season with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. On Friday, UK edged host Nebraska, 4673-4607. Kentucky got strong performances from nearly its entire roster against the Cornhuskers, posting a 2332 smallbore total and a 2341 air rifle score, outshooting Nebraska?s 2285 smallbore and 2322 air rifle score.
?Coming out of this weekend 2-0 is a huge deal,? Mullins said. ?This win is a big one because it gives the team a lot of confidence headed into a tough three-week stretch. We have some big matches starting next weekend with Ole Miss and N.C. State and we need to be able to maintain the same work ethic and focus that we competed with over the weekend.?
Kentucky (3-0) returns to action, Friday, Nov. 2 against Ole Miss in Lexington.
?I couldn?t be prouder of the way our team preformed,? Mullins said. Other teams may have given in, but they worked it out and got the reward in the end. We need to enjoy it now and get back to work on Monday and put our nose to the grindstone and keep improving as a team.?
