By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The University of Tennessee at Martin rifle squad put together a great showing over the weekend at the JSU Invitational as the Skyhawks were one of four teams to participate in the two-day event.
UT Martin joined a field that included host Jacksonville State, Murray State and UAB. On Friday, the Skyhawks set a season-high in aggregate scoring (4,636) while tying its season-best tally in smallbore with 2,305 points. The event concluded on Saturday as UT Martin produced a total score of 4,608 points.
Alayna Walther led the Skyhawks in aggregate scoring and smallbore scoring on both days. The sophomore from Avella, Pa. equaled Nick Fares and Joey Kovach for the best air rifle score on Day 1 while Rachel Sprague paced UT Martin in air rifle scoring on the final day.
On Friday, a pair of Skyhawks recorded new career-high scores. The season-high mark in smallbore consisted of Walther (career-best 583), Fares (574), Kovach (574), Sprague (574) and Jesse Chamberlain (546). UT Martin added a score of 2,331 points in air rifle as that lineup included Fares (584), Kovach (584), Walther (584), Chamberlain (career-high 579) and Sprague (578).
Walther posted the best aggregate score (1,167) on the team and was followed by Fares (1,158), Kovach (1,158), Sprague (1,152) and Chamberlain (1,125).
Day 2 featured team tallies of 2,288 in smallbore and 2,320 in air rifle. Walther’s 580 was the best smallbore score on the squad as she was followed by Kovach (576), Fares (569), Sprague (563) and Chamberlain (559). The Skyhawks’ air rifle score was topped by Sprague’s 582 while Fares (581), Walther (579), Kovach (578) and Chamberlain (567) trailed closely behind.
On the aggregate side, UT Martin’s scoring lineup was made up of Walther (1,159), Kovach (1,154), Fares (1,150), Sprague (1,145) and Chamberlain (1,126).
Freshman Jeffrey Bourassa also competed this weekend for the Skyhawks as an individual. The Manassas, Va. native managed a 546 in smallbore and 566 in air rifle (1,112 aggregate) on Friday before turning in scores of 555 in smallbore and 572 in air rifle (1,127 aggregate) one day later.
UT Martin will take a near-two-month break from official competition before a home-heavy spring schedule opens on Jan. 14 against Murray State.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information