No. 3 UK Rifle Wins at In-State Foe No. 10 Murray State

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 3 Kentucky rifle team traveled to western Kentucky on Saturday and defeated No. 10 Murray State in the opening match of the season by a score of 4693-4654. Freshman Mary Tucker was the top individual scorer of the match with an 1185.
 
UK now boasts the No. 2 smallbore score (2333) and No. 2 air rifle score (2363) in the country after today’s match.
 
Kentucky jumped out to the lead after a strong smallbore showing. Tucker paced the Cats with a 590, as the team shot 2333. Will Shaner shot a 585, one off of his career mark in smallbore. Hailee Sigmon followed closely behind with a 584. Richard Clark shot a 574 while Ruby Gomes fired a 570.
 
The Wildcats built on their success in smallbore with a stellar air rifle performance, shooting 2363. Four Wildcats broke the 590 barrier, and seven topped 585. Tucker shot a 595, and Shaner fired a 594. Clark and Emmie Sellers were not a part of the lineup for air rifle but shot career marks as individuals in air rifle with a 595 and 594, respectively. Gomes’ day was highlighted by a 10.9 mark to pace her to a 588. Ian Foos began his senior campaign with a 586 while Sigmon rounded out the lineup with a 584. 
 
Tucker makes her UK debut after competing at the ISSF World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this summer, where she placed eighth in the 10-meter women’s air rifle. Shaner also competed in international competition this summer, placing 43rd in the 10m men’s air rifle at the ISSF World Cup. He also traveled to Naples, Italy, for the World University Games, finishing 12th in men’s air rifle and eighth in the mixed team event.
 
“I am very proud of both their performances this summer,” Mullins said. “They have worked hard to get to this point in their shooting careers, and if they keep working hard, I think we will see some special things from both of them in the future.”
 
The Wildcats have now defeated the Racers in 10 of the last 11 matches between the two squads, having split the previous two years. Kentucky beat Murray State in Lexington last October by a score of 4718-4685.
 
UK returns to action next Saturday for its home opener at the Buell Armory on Oct. 19 for a tri-match with in-state foes Murray State and No. 16 Morehead State.
 
For the latest on the Kentucky rifle team, follow @UKrifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.