By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin rifle program collected its best team scores of the three-match homestand across the board today against the No. 13 ranked Memphis Tigers.
The Skyhawks were responsible for an aggregate tally of 4,596 after posting a 2,327 air rifle score and 2,269 smallbore points. Despite the fact that all three of those figures were the highest of the team’s season-long three-match homestand, UT Martin was topped by Memphis, who secured 4,693 points (2,371 air rifle, 2,322 smallbore).
Alayna Walther’s 1,163 aggregate points were just four shy of her season-high as the Avella, Pa. native paced the Skyhawks in that category for the sixth time in 10 opportunities this season. Nick Fares was responsible for a team-high 591 smallbore score (just missing out on his season-high by one point) as he led UT Martin for the seventh time in 2022-23. In smallbore, Joey Kovach’s 577 led the way as the Bedford, Pa. native guided the squad for the fourth match of his freshman campaign.
Following Fares in the Skyhawk air rifle lineup was Walther (587), Kovach (583), Jesse Chamberlain (566) and Victoria Petersen (558). Coming in behind Kovach in UT Martin’s smallbore lineup was Walther (576), Fares (567), Chamberlain (549) and Petersen (549). Jeffrey Bourassa also took part in today’s match, competing unattached with scores of 572 in air rifle and 552 in smallbore.
Ranking behind Walther in the Skyhawks’ cumulative scoring column was Kovach (1,160 points – just three off his season-high), Fares (1,158), Bourassa (1,124), Chamberlain (1,115) and Petersen (1,107).
Today’s match wrapped up the 2022-23 regular season as UT Martin will now prepare to host the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference Championships, which will take place at Skyhawk Rifle Range on Feb. 4-5.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information