Rifle Defeats Memphis to Conclude 2-0 Weekend
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky rifle team concluded an impressive weekend with another win Monday, defeating Memphis in a dual match 4736-4699 inside Pat Spurgin Rifle Range in Murray, Kentucky.
Kentucky scored a 2351 in smallbore and 2385 in air rifle for a 4736 team score. Memphis posted a 2334 in smallbore and 2365 in air rifle for a 4699 team score. Sunday, Kentucky won the Withrow Open – hosted by Murray State – with a score of 4731. Nebraska, Jacksonville State, North Georgia, UAB and Memphis also competed Sunday in the Withrow Open.
“A good weekend overall with some really strong performances all throughout our lineup,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “We have a short week of training this week before traveling for to North Georgia and then Alaska. Hopefully we can continue to get better and build on some of these strong performances.”
Kentucky was led in smallbore by freshman Sam Adkins, who posted an impressive 590 score, earning a 196 in kneeling, 198 in prone and 196 in standing with 32 centers. Sophomore Braden Peiser and freshman Liz Probst each scored a 589 in the discipline with Peiser hitting 38 centers and Probst 35 centers. Junior Martin Voss had a great performance with a 588, earning a 196 in kneeling, 199 in prone and 193 in standing with 41 centers. Junior Sofia Ceccarello scored a 585 with 27 centers, earning 196 in kneeling and prone and 193 in standing with 27 centers. Senior Allison Buesseler scored a 584 with a 197 kneeling, 196 prone and 191 standing, while junior AJ Hotko posted a 583 with 193 kneeling, 199 prone and 191 standing. Freshman Brandon Evans scored a 579 with 30 centers, including a 193 in kneeling, 197 in prone and 189 standing, while fellow freshman Hannah Todd scored a 572 with 186 in kneeling, 194 in prone and 192 in standing. Wrapping up the scoring was sophomore Emily Marne with a 542, scoring a 176 in kneeling, 193 in prone and 173 in standing.
In air rifle, Kentucky was led by Peiser, who scored a 599 with 55 centers. Probsts and Ceccarello each scored 596 in air rifle with Ceccarello earning 52 centers and Probsts 47 centers. Adkins scored a 594 with 42 centers, while Voss earned 593 with 45 centers. Buesseler scored a 592 with 47 centers, while Evans and Hotko posted 589s. Todd scored a 584, while Marne earned a 568.
Kentucky will travel to North Georgia on Jan. 26 for a dual match before two matches vs. Alaska in Fairbanks, Alaska on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. UK wraps the regular season on Feb. 8 against WVU in Lexington before hosting its NCAA Qualifier on Feb. 22.
Postseason competition begins March 1-2 with the Great America Rifle Conference Championships in Morgantown, West Virginia. The NCAA Rifle Championships return to Lexington for the first time since 2020. The two-day event will see the best air rifle and smallbore competitors in the nation compete on the Historic Memorial Coliseum floor. The smallbore competition will be March 14 followed by air rifle competition on March 15. Ticket information and full schedule of events for the championships will be announced later.
For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
