West Virginia Falls to Alaska-Fairbanks – West Virginia University Athletics

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Jan. 13, 2023) – The No. 5-ranked West Virginia College rifle staff fell to No. 2 Alaska-Fairbanks, 4736-4744, on Friday night on the E.F. Horton Rifle Vary in Fairbanks, Alaska.
 
“We might have beloved to have gained as we speak, however there have been a whole lot of positives and good performances,” coach Jon Hammond mentioned. “UAF shot a superb match, and whereas we made it shut, it wasn’t sufficient.”
 
The Nanooks and Mountaineers have been solely separated by 5 factors in every self-discipline, with Alaska-Fairbanks claiming smallbore 2358-2353 and air rifle 2386-2383.
 
The match was led by West Virginia Senior Mary Tucker, who shot an 1191 general, together with a 594 in smallbore and a 597 in air rifle. The Sarasota, Florida, native is coming off the NCAA file setting efficiency in combination rating with 1196 in her final match towards then-ranked No. 11 NC State and tied the nationwide file for smallbore rating with 597.
 
Outdoors of Tucker, three extra Mountaineers completed inside the highest 10 of the person match leaderboard. Senior Malori Brown adopted Tucker for WVU, ending fourth with an combination rating of 1189. Brown notched a 591 and 598 in smallbore and air rifle, respectively. Her combination and air rifle scores have been adequate for a profession excessive, whereas her 591 in smallbore tied her profession finest.
 
Junior Molly McGhin and senior Akihito Shimizu rounded out the Mountaineers within the prime ten. McGhin completed sixth, taking pictures a 590 in smallbore and air rifle for an combination of 1180. Shimizu checked in with an combination rating of 1180 as nicely, notching a 586 in smallbore and a 594 in air rifle. McGhin’s smallbore rating set a brand new season excessive, tying her profession finest within the course of.
 
Behind her was fifth-year senior Verena Zaisberger, who got here in eleventh place with an combination rating of 1184. The Hohenems, Austria, native completed the match with a 585 in smallbore and a 599 in air rifle. Zaisberger led the air rifle self-discipline for the match and set a profession finest.
 
“We had some actually good performances from Mary, Malori and Verena in air rifle and lots of others, so there’s rather a lot to construct from, and now we have one other match tomorrow to check ourselves towards some good groups,” coach Hammond mentioned.
 
Juniors Matt Sanchez and Tal Engler, together with senior Cliasta Smoyer, earned spots 13, 14 and 15, respectively. Sanchez claimed thirteenth and completed the match with 582 factors in smallbore and 597 factors in air rifle, summing to a 1179 combination rating. His 597 air rifle rating tied his season finest.
 
Engler adopted Sanchez with an combination rating of 1176. Engler tallied a 581 in smallbore and a 595 in air rifle. Smoyer rounded out West Virginia, taking fifteenth with an combination rating of 1168, whereas taking pictures 574 in smallbore and 594 in air rifle.
 
“I believe we are able to nonetheless be extra disciplined general, and we’ll work on that tomorrow,” coach Hammond mentioned.
 
West Virginia continues in motion in Alaska tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 14, at Tanana Valley Sportsmen’s Affiliation. The Mountaineers tackle Alaska-Fairbanks, No. 3 Kentucky and No. Georgia Southern.
 
For extra info on the Mountaineers, go to WVUsports.com and observe WVURifle on Twitter, Instagram and Fb.