No. 3 Rifle Returns to Action Saturday vs. No. 8 NC State
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a break in action to recharge last weekend, the No. 3 University of Kentucky rifle team returns to the Barker Hall Rifle Range on Saturday as it plays host to its first in-person match of the season against No. 8 North Carolina State. The first relay will begin at 8 a.m. ET and live targets will be available online at UKathletics.com.
“We are very excited about having our first head-to-head match on Saturday,” said UK head coach Harry Mullins. “The team has been working hard and it will be nice to put what we have been working on to a test. This is our first head-to-head match of the year and it’s strange to say that this late into the fall season, but I think the team is really excited to compete.”
Kentucky has started its season with three virtual wins over Akron, Morehead State and Army. The Wildcats started the season with a 4715 team score against the Zips while two weekends ago they posted a 4709 virtually against the Black Knights and Eagles. The strong start has Kentucky currently ranked No. 3 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association Top 20 rankings.
Against Morehead State and Army, the Wildcats started the match with a 2338 team score in smallbore and followed with a season-high mark of 2371 in air rifle for a final score of 4709. It was junior Will Shaner that paced the Wildcats in both disciplines, earning a 591 in smallbore and 599 in air rifle. Both marks were season highs for Shaner, while his impressive air rifle score tied a career high. Sophomore Mary Tucker had another strong showing with a 589 in smallbore and 597 in air rifle. Senior Hailee Sigmon scored a 580 in smallbore and 584 in air rifle while junior Richard Clark posted a 578 in smallbore and 590 in air rifle. Sophomores Jaden Thompson and Emmie Sellers performed well with Thompson scoring a 576 in smallbore and 591 in air rifle while Sellers secured a career-best 579 in smallbore and 584 in air rifle.
NC State enters the weekend with a 1-1 record after dropping its first match of the year at Navy, 4670-4665. The Wolfpack responded the following week by taking down North Georgia at home, 4673-4590. NC State’s match last week vs. Akron was canceled. Addy Burrow is leading the team so far this season with an aggregate average of 1177.0 while Emily Fisher is averaging a 1170.
For the latest on the Kentucky rifle team, follow @UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.
