Rifle Travels to Navy for Dual Match Saturday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Looking to build off its season-opening win earlier this month at Morehead State, the University of Kentucky rifle team returns to action this weekend as its travels to Annapolis, Maryland for a dual match with Navy on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET. Live targets and live scores will be available online at UKathletics.com.
“Excited to get back at it this weekend and see what we have improved on since the first match of the season,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “I have been pleased with the focus we have had in practice over the last few weeks after we didn’t perform up to our standards at Morehead State. Navy is a very talented squad and we will have to compete at a high level Saturday. More than anything, I just want us to continue to improve and take our training from the practice range into competition.”
Kentucky began its season on Oct. 9 at Morehead State, earning a 4680-4658 victory over the Eagles. UK earned the season-opening win with a 2330 in smallbore and 2350 in air rifle. The Wildcats were led at the match by senior Richard Clark, who scored a 586 in smallbore and 590 in air rifle for an aggregate of 1176. Junior Jaden Thompson had a strong match with a 585 in smallbore and 587 in air rifle for a 1172 aggregate. Clark was the top finisher in smallbore at the match, with Thompson in second place. Fellow junior Emmie Sellers totaled a 1167 overall, scoring a 581 in smallbore and 586 in air rifle. Senior Mitchell Nelson and junior Mason Hamilton performed in the match with Nelson earning a 1165 aggregate while Hamilton had a 1163 total.
While Saturday will be Kentucky’s second match of the year, it will be the seventh of the season for Navy, who enters with a 3-3 record. The Midshipmen have wins this season over VMI, Ohio State and Memphis and losses to TCU, Akron and Ole Miss. Navy’s best performance this year has come in two of its last three matches, scoring a 4687 against Ohio State and Ole Miss. Michael Zanti leads the team with a 587.4 smallbore average, 595.2 air rifle average and 1182.6 aggregate average.
Following Saturday’s match at Navy, the Wildcats will return home for four straight home matches to end the 2021 portion of the schedule. UK starts by hosting Ole Miss on Saturday, Nov. 6 before the Kentucky Long Rifle Match with Morehead State and Murray State on Saturday, Nov. 13. The following day, UK hosts Memphis on Sunday, Nov. 14 and rounds out the 2021 schedule against Akron on Saturday, Nov. 20.
For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
