Rifle Begins 2021-22 Season Saturday at Morehead State
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky rifle team will begin its 2021-22 season Saturday as it travels just up the road for a dual match at Morehead State University.
The competition is set to begin Saturday at 8 a.m. ET inside Button Range. Live targets and live results will be available online at ukathletics.com.
Entering its 36th year under legendary head coach Harry Mullins, Kentucky returns seven letterwinners from last season in seniors Richard Clark, Mitchell Nelson and Will Shaner and juniors Mason Hamilton, Emmie Sellers, Jaden Thompson and Mary Tucker. All contributed all season long during Kentucky’s 2020-21 title run.
Shaner and Tucker were consensus first-team All-America honorees last season. Tucker was the smallbore, air rifle and overall NCAA national champion last season, while Shaner finished second in air rifle. Both qualified for the United States to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and brought home medals. Shaner became the first American male to bring home gold in the 10m air rifle event, while Tucker won silver in the mixed team air rifle event and finished sixth in women’s 10m air rifle.
Several newcomers will compete for Kentucky this fall. Kayla Kalenza (Fort Mill, South Carolina), Allison Buesseler (Forest Lake, Minnesota), Victoria Kopelen (Fairfax, Virginia) and Mackenna O’Mara (Harmony, Pennsylvania) have joined the roster.
It was a banner season for Kentucky in 2020-21, earning the 2021 NCAA Rifle National Championship. It was the third national title for Mullins and the Kentucky program. The Wildcats also claimed the team championship in 2011 and 2018. UK’s three titles are tied for third most among all Division I programs with Tennessee Tech and TCU.
Kentucky earned the team championship after posting a 4731 overall team score with a 2352 in smallbore and 2379 in air rifle. Kentucky’s team score was the highest in championship history since the event went to 120 shots per competitor from 160 shots in 2005.
This will be the third dual match of the year for Morehead State, who enters the weekend with a 2-0 record. The Eagles competed twice last weekend, defeating No. 20 Georgia Southern on Friday 4674-4603 and again on Saturday 4663-4577.
Following this weekend’s season opener, Kentucky will have an off weekend before traveling to Navy on Saturday, Oct. 30. UK will have its home opener on Saturday, Nov. 6 vs. Ole Miss.
For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
