Oct. 17, 2008

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Junior shooter Ashley Jackson, who posted team-high scores in both smallbore and air rifle during Kentucky’s season-opening win over Ohio State, has been named the UK Rifle Shooter of the Week, head coach Harry Mullins announced.

Jackson posted a 584 in air rifle and a 582 in smallbore, marking the only UK shooter to break 580 in both guns. Jackson, a junior and native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, posted a 195 in smallbore prone and 189 scores in both smallbore kneeling and smallbore standing.

“I was very pleased with Ashley’s performance in our win over Ohio State,” Mullins said. “She was the only shooter to break 580 on both guns and we are going to need that kind of consistent performances from her throughout the season.”

Jackson proved herself one of the better shooters in the nation a year ago, earning honorable mention honors in smallbore. As a sophomore, Jackson totaled a 573 smallbore average and a 580.2 average in air rifle, excelling in the pressure of the post-season with a 583.3 average in air rifle. Jackson, who put up a 582 in air rifle at the NCAA Championships in 2007-08, tied teammate Tom Csenge’s total 1166 score in the win over Ohio State for the team lead.
 
“Ashley started off in her first match of the year right where she left off in smallbore at the NCAA Championships, and she continues to progress forward,” Mullins detailed. “She has showed a tremendous work ethic and I am very excited for her to have success. She is really improving in air rifle and has had some great training sessions and I expect to see some good things from her in the first couple of matches.”

Kentucky returns to action on Oct. 24, facing Alaska-Fairbanks in Fairbanks, Alaska.