By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MURRAY, Ky. – Alayna Walther ranked atop the University of Tennessee at Martin rankings in aggregate, smallbore and air rifle scoring but the Skyhawk rifle squad fell by a 4,660-4,619 margin against Jacksonville State today.
A sophomore who hails from Avella, Pa., Walther was responsible for 1,159 total points after firing a career-best 586 in air rifle to go along with 573 points in smallbore. That helped UT Martin register a season-high 2,336 air rifle points – which was one point better than its tally last time out against Ole Miss on Oct. 16. Additionally, the Skyhawks managed a score of 2,283 points in smallbore today, an eight-point improvement from their season opener against Morehead State on Oct. 7-8.
Walther’s career-high air rifle score was one of three new personal-best performances from UT Martin today as Jesse Chamberlain (564) and Victoria Petersen (559) each earned new career-best scores in smallbore.
The Skyhawks’ smallbore score consisted of Walther’s 573, a trio of 570-point efforts out of Nick Fares, Joey Kovach and Rachel Sprague and Chamberlain’s 564. Alongside Petersen, freshman Jeffrey Bourassa also competed individually for UT Martin with 557 points.
In air rifle, Walther’s 586 barely edged Fares (586) for the best mark on the team. Sprague followed not too far behind with a 584 while Kovach’s 581 and Chamberlain’s 569 completed the team scoring. Bourassa and Petersen came away with scores of 570 and 564, respectively.
The Skyhawks go on the road for their last three matches of the fall campaign. UT Martin travels to Ohio Valley Conference foe Morehead State for back-to-back competitions on Nov. 5-6 before heading to Jacksonville, Ala. for the JSU Invitational on Nov. 18-19.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information