Rifle Ready for First Home match Saturday vs. Memphis
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky rifle team is ready to get back in front of Big Blue Nation this weekend as the Wildcats host their first home match of the season Saturday against Memphis inside the UK Rifle Range.
Sights and prep for smallbore will begin at 9 a.m. ET with air rifle getting underway at approx. 11:30 a.m. ET. There will only be one relay Saturday. Spectators are invited to watch smallbore scores up in Barker Hall and enjoy free breakfast during the first part of the relay. The range will be open to spectators for air rifle. Admission is free.
Another way for fans to follow along both in-person and watching at home will be live commentary online to help provide a breakdown of the action and how the teams and competitors are performing. Former UK All-American Billy Azzinaro, who helped lead UK to the 2018 NCAA Championship, will be providing commentary of the action on Saturday. The live commentary will be available through the UK Rifle Facebook Page, along with live targets and a NCAA scorecard.
“Excited to get back in front of our fans and in our range for a home match. The team has done well responding to what we have thrown at them on the road,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “I hope our fans can come out and support our team. We have had a good couple weeks of prep and I look forward to seeing how we compete tomorrow.”
As a team this season, Kentucky is averaging a 2356 in smallbore and 2386 in air rifle for an aggregate average of 4742, which is the highest in the nation this season. UK’s air rifle average is also tops in the nation, while its smallbore average is second.
The Wildcats will be without two of their top three performers Saturday as junior Braden Peiser and senior Sofia Ceccarello are overseas competing in the ISSF World Championships. Peiser leads the team this year in aggregate average at 1193.25, while Ceccarello is third at 1184.
Sophomore Sam Adkins is second on the team this season, averaging a 589 in smallbore and 596 in air rifle for an aggregate average of 1185. Fellow sophomore Liz Probst is earning a 584 in smallbore and 593.5 in air rifle for a 1177.5 aggregate average, while Brandon Evans is next on the team with a 582.5 in smallbore and 593.75 in air rifle for a 1176.25 aggregate.
Freshmen Jacob St. Hilaire and Elisa Boozer are having great rookie seasons. St. Hilaire is earning a 580.5 smallbore average with a 592.25 air rifle average for a 1172.75 aggregate. Boozer is posting a 574.5 smallbore and 595.25 air rifle for a 1169.75 aggregate.
Senior Martin Voss is averaging a 582 in smallbore and 587.667 in air rifle for a 1169.667 aggregate, while sophomore Hannah Todd is posting a 572 in smallbore and 587 in air rifle for a 1159 aggregate.
Memphis is averaging a 4720.67 team aggregate, earning a 2344.67 in smallbore and 2376 in air rifle. The Tigers are led by Katrina Demerle with a 587 smallbore and 595.667 air rifle for a 1182.667 aggregate.
Kentucky and Memphis met to start UK’s season at Ohio State with the Wildcats posting a 4740 and Memphis a 4712.
