Rifle Ends Fall Season Saturday vs. Akron Inside Barker Hall

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After earning two wins last weekend with impressive all-around performances, the University of Kentucky rifle team will conclude the fall portion of its schedule Saturday when it plays host to Akron inside Barker Hall starting at 8 a.m. ET.
 
Spectators are invited to watch smallbore scores up in Barker Hall and enjoy free breakfast starting at 8 a.m. ET. The range will be open to spectators for air rifle. All spectators are required to be masked while inside Barker Hall or the UK Rifle Range. Admission is free.
 
“It was great to have back-to-back wins last weekend inside Barker Hall and excited to conclude the fall season tomorrow vs. Akron,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “I really have been pleased with the work this team has been putting in. Saturday will be another chance for them to put their training to the test and see where we stack up against a quality team.”
 
Kentucky had a successful weekend inside Barker Hall last weekend, earning a win in the Kentucky Long Rifle Match and defeating Memphis in a dual match. Kentucky claimed the Kentucky Long Rifle Match with a 7059 total, scoring a 3516 in smallbore and 3543 in air rifle. Murray State finished second with a 3489 in smallbore, 3533 in air rifle and total of 7022. Morehead State was third with a 3446 in smallbore, 3542 in air rifle and 6980 total.
 
For NCAA scoring purposes, UK posted an aggregate of 4733 with a 2356 in smallbore and 2377 in air rifle. The impressive smallbore score was the highest of the season for Kentucky and tied for the fourth highest in the nation this season. The impressive overall aggregate gives Kentucky two team aggregates this season at 4733 or higher – one of two teams in the nation to claim that honor. Junior Mary Tucker was the top performer overall at the match, scoring a 593 in smallbore and 597 in air rifle for an aggregate of 1190.
 
Kentucky earned the win over Memphis with a 2338 in smallbore and 2379 in air rifle. All five NCAA countable athletes scored a 590 or greater in air rifle to give UK its second-highest season total in the discipline. Memphis posted a 2315 in smallbore and 2343 in air rifle. The top five individual performers at the match were all clad in Kentucky blue. Senior Will Shaner took home the top individual spot, earning a 589 in smallbore and season-high tying 596 in air rifle for an aggregate of 1185.
 
Tucker and Shaner have been the top individual performers for Kentucky this season. Tucker is averaging 588.667 in smallbore and 597.667 in air rifle for a total aggregate average of 1186.334. Shaner has the highest smallbore average on the team at 590.667, adding a 595.333 air rifle average for an aggregate average of 1186.000. Seniors Richard Clark and Mitchell Nelson are having great seasons. Clark is averaging 582.8 in smallbore and 592.8 in air rifle, while Nelson is earning a 583.6 in smallbore and 590.4 in air rifle.
 
Juniors Jaden Thompson, Mason Hamilton and Emmie Sellers are looking to improve on strong averages this weekend. Thompson is averaging 582.4 in smallbore and 588.2 in air rifle, while Hamilton is earning 578.6 in smallbore and 585.25 in air rifle. Sellers is averaging 575.5 in smallbore and 587 in air rifle. Three freshmen have been contributing this fall in Allison Buesseler, Tori Kopelen and Kayla Kalenza. Buesseler is averaging 571.5 in smallbore and 587.6 in air rifle. Kopelen is averaging 575.667 in smallbore and 579 in air rifle, while Kalenza is earning a 558.5 in smallbore and 580 in air rifle.
 
Akron enters the weekend with a 2-4 record with wins over Navy and Memphis and losses to Ole Miss, Army, TCU and Murray State. The Zips are averaging 2318.2 in smallbore, 2358.2 in air rifle and an aggregate of 4676.4 this season. Their season high score to date is a 4692 scored last week vs. Murray State. Andre Gross leads the team with a 582.8 smallbore average while Alexis Kirk has the squad’s highest air rifle average at 589.6.
 
Saturday’s match completes the fall season for Kentucky, who will return to action Jan. 15-16 with dual matches at Army vs. Army and NC State.
 
For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.