By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MURRAY, Ky. – The No. 20 ranked University of Tennessee at Martin rifle squad shattered its previous season-best benchmarks in smallbore, air rifle and aggregate scoring today against Memphis in the NCAA Qualifier held at the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range.
The Skyhawks accumulated 2,295 smallbore points (eight points better than their previous season-high) and 2,336 air rifle points (five better than their next-best score this season). That led to 4,631 aggregate points, which were a whopping 23 points more than UT Martin’s previous season-high of 4,608 set against North Georgia on Jan. 23.
Individually, a trio of Skyhawks earned season-high scores today. Nick Fares (592) and Alayna Walther (586) collected personal-best tallies in air rifle while Jesse Chamberlain racked up a career-high 560 points in smallbore.
For the fifth time this season, Jennifer Plocinik guided UT Martin in scoring in smallbore as the redshirt senior came away with 582 points. Rachel Sprague followed with 575 points and was followed by Fares’ 574, Walther’s 564 and Chamberlain’s career-best 560.
In air rifle, Fares equaled his career-high for the second time in a month with a remarkable 592. Walther’s career-best 586 was the next highest score in the Skyhawk lineup while Plocinik (584), Sprague (574) and Chamberlain (572) completed the scoring.
Victoria Petersen and Rachel Mills also represented UT Martin on an individual basis today. Petersen was responsible for a 555 in smallbore and 558 in air rifle while Mills accounted for a 527 in smallbore and a 549 in air rifle.
The duo of Fares and Plocinik tied each other with identical 1,166 aggregate scores to pace the Skyhawks. It marked the eighth time that Plocinik had topped UT Martin in that category this season and the third time in the last four matches for Fares to lead the squad in combined points.
Walther (1,150) ranked third on the team in aggregate scoring and was followed by Sprague (1,149), Chamberlain (1,132), Petersen (1,113) and Mills (1,076).
The Skyhawks now will wait and see if any of their individual scores will advance them to the NCAA Championships. The NCAA rifle selection show will be streamed live on NCAA.com and is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. CST.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information