Rifle Begins 2022 Slate with Doubleheader vs. Army, NC State

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky rifle team is back in action this weekend to begin the 2022 season as the Wildcats will travel to West Point, New York, to compete in dual matches vs. Army and NC State.
 
The competition begins Saturday as UK faces host Army and will conclude Sunday with a neutral-site dual match vs. NC State. Live results and live targets are both available online at UKathletics.com.
 
“It is exciting to get back to shooting matches and getting on the road to compete,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “These are two good teams and we will have our work cut out for us. We are looking forward to getting on the road after a good training camp that really tested ourselves.”
 
Kentucky (5-1) enters 2022 with some momentum following three straight wins to conclude the fall season. The Wildcats started the stretch by scoring a 4733 in the Kentucky Long Rifle Match against Murray State and Morehead State. UK continued that with a 4717 team score in a dual match against Memphis and concluded the 2021 slate with a 4724 team score against Akron. UK is one of two schools in the nation to post a 2356 or higher team score in smallbore this season, while its season-best air rifle team score of 2385 is tied for the best in the nation. UK’s season-best aggregate of 4736 is tied for the third best in the nation.
 
Individually, Kentucky has been led by Olympic medalists Will Shaner and Mary Tucker this season. Shaner is averaging 590.75 in smallbore and 596 in air rifle for a team-best aggregate average of 1186.76. Tucker is right behind him with a 587.5 average in smallbore and team-best 597.5 air rifle average for a 1185 aggregate average. Shaner and Tucker missed two matches in the fall due to international competition, including UK’s lone loss of the season vs. Ole Miss.
 
Senior Richard Clark is having another strong season for Kentucky, averaging 583.167 in smallbore and 592.833 in air rifle for an aggregate average of 1176. Fellow senior Mitchell Nelson is averaging a 583.667 in smallbore and 590.667 in air rifle for a 1174.334 aggregate average. Juniors Jaden Thompson, Mason Hamilton and Emmie Sellers are all having great seasons. Thompson is averaging a 1169.667, while Hamilton is earning a 1165.733 and Sellers a 1164.2. Freshman Allison Buesseler is averaging a 1159, including a 588 in air rifle. Fellow freshman Tori Kopelen and Kayla Kalenza are averaging 1156.833 and 1138.5, respectively.
 
Army (0-4) will also being its 2022 season this weekend. The Black Knights fell in all four of its dual matches in the fall of 2021, losing to Nebraska, Air Force, West Virginia and Ohio State. Army finished third in the President’s Trophy Match with Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. Claudia Sigel leads the team with a 1170.833 aggregate average while Lauren McMahan is second on the team with a 1169.667 aggregate average.
 
NC State enters the weekend with a 1-5 record having played some of the best teams in the nation in the fall. The Wolfpack registered a win against Memphis in October but fell in their other competition against West Virginia, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Navy and Alaska Fairbanks. This weekend’s competition will be the first of 2022 for NC State. Addy Burrow leads the team with a 1171.333 aggregate average this season, followed by Ben Salas at 1166.834.
 
For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.