Rifle Hosts Ole Miss for Home Opener Saturday
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Coming off an impressive performance last weekend at Navy, the University of Kentucky rifle team is back in action this weekend at Barker Hall, hosting its home opener vs. Ole Miss on Saturday at 8 a.m. ET. Live scores and live targets will be available online at UKathletics.com.
Spectators are invited to watch smallbore scores in Barker Hall and enjoy free breakfast starting at 8 a.m. ET. The range will be open to spectators for air rifle. The match will run two relays. All spectators are required to be masked while inside Barker Hall or the UK Rifle Range. Admission is free.
“So excited to have Big Blue Nation back inside Barker Hall with us,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “The team has been training hard and taking steps in the right direction. This will be the first of four straight home matches to end the fall season. We hope fans can come out to a few matches and support this team because they are working so hard.”
It was a successful match last weekend for Kentucky in Annapolis, Maryland, earning a school-record team score of 4736. It marked the third straight season that Kentucky has bested its school-record team score.
Kentucky (2-0) earned the high score last weekend after season-high marks in both smallbore and air rifle. UK started the match with a 2351 in smallbore and sealed the victory with a 2385 in air rifle. The smallbore score is tied for the fourth-highest in the nation this season, while UK’s air rifle score is tied for the highest mark in the nation. The aggregate is second highest in the nation this season.
The top five individual scores vs. Navy were all Wildcats with junior Mary Tucker leading the way in both disciplines. Tucker shot a 592 in smallbore and 599 in air rifle for an aggregate score of 1191. The 599 in air rifle is just the fifth 599 or better mark this season in collegiate air rifle. Senior Will Shaner finished just behind her with a 589 in smallbore and 596 in air rifle for an aggregate of 1185. This was the first collegiate match of the season for the duo as both have been competing internationally for USA Shooting.
Senior Richard Clark continued his strong start to the 2021-22 season with a 583 in smallbore and 595 in air rifle for an aggregate of 1178. Fellow senior Mitchell Nelson and junior Jaden Thompson each also scored 1178 aggregates. Nelson scored 587 in smallbore and 591 in air rifle – both career-high marks – while Thompson shot 583 in smallbore and ties a career best with a 595 in air rifle.
Junior Emmie Sellers posted a 572 in smallbore and 593 in air rifle, while fellow junior Mason Hamilton scored a career-best 581 in smallbore and 588 in air rifle. Freshman Allison Buesseler posted a 572 in smallbore and 586 in air rifle.
Ole Miss enters the match with a 4-1 record, earing four straight wins after opening season with a 4733-4683 loss vs. West Virginia. Since that setback, the Rebels have defeated Murray State, Akron, Navy and NC State. Ole Miss is averaging 2338.40 in smallbore, 2370.20 in air rifle and a team aggregate of 4708.60. Lea Horvath leads the Rebels with a 589.75 smallbore, 597.25 air rifle and 1187.00 aggregate.
Saturday’s match vs. Ole Miss starts four straight home matches to end the 2021 portion of the schedule. Next weekend, UK hosts the Kentucky Long Rifle Match with Morehead State and Murray State. 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.
Mary Tucker, Will Shaner Make Air Rifle Semifinals at ISSF President’s Cup
Kentucky rifle stars Mary Tucker and Will Shaner are shinning on the international stage again as both are competing at the ISSF President’s Cup in Wroclow, Poland.
Tucker is in the semifinals of the women’s 10m air rifle, while Shaner is in the semifinals of the men’s 10m air rifle. Both have also qualified for the semifinals of the 10m air rifle mixed team.
Tucker is also scheduled to participate in the 50m rifle three positions competition.
