LEXINGTON, Ky. – After two wins to start the season and a week off to work on some of the finer details, the University of Kentucky rifle team returns to action Saturday hosting a tri-game with Navy and North Georgia inside Barker Hall and the rifle range in the United Kingdom.
All three teams will race through two relays with previews and small openers starting at 8 a.m. ET. Spectators are invited to watch the small scores in Barker Hall and enjoy a free breakfast during the first leg of the relay. Poland will be open to air rifle spectators. Entry is free.
“We’ve had some good practices and I’m excited to see how we transfer some of the things we’ve been working on into the competition this weekend,” said UK coach Harry Mullins. “I am very excited that the team will be together on the home field for the first time this season. We missed Will and Sofia during the home opener and the team chemistry of this group is so strong that I think it means a lot to have everyone here this weekend. Hopefully Big Blue Nation will come out and support us and hopefully we can put on a good performance.”
Kentucky started the season with a win at Akron in early October and followed that up with a win against NC State at home. In two matches this season, UK is averaging 2322.50 in small rifle, 2376.50 and air rifle and a total score of 4699. Freshman Sofia Ceccarello and super senior Will Shaner led the Wildcats in the first match of the season before traveling overseas for competed internationally during the second game of the Great Britain season. Ceccarello led all performers at the Akron meet, shooting a total of 1182, while Shaner finished right behind her with a 1178. Sophomore Allison Buesseler has performed well this season with a total average of 1177. Super senior Richard Clark and sophomore second Kayla Kalenza are each averaging a 1175.5 aggregate this season.
Seniors Jaden Thompson and Emmie Sellers have combined for strong starts to their seasons with a combined average of 1171 and 1168, respectively. Freshman Martin Voss is also averaging a 1168 this season, while super senior Mitchell Nelson is averaging a 1167.5. Sophomore Tori Kopelen is earning a 1148.5, while freshman AJ Hotko is posting a 1145 and Mason Hamilton a 1144.
Navy enters the game off a win against Memphis on Oct. 2. In the first game of the season, Navy finished second to TCU in a four-way matchup with the Horned Frogs and the VMI men’s and women’s teams. The Navy averaged 2316 in small arms, 2364.5 in air rifles and a total of 4680.5.
This will be the fifth game of the season for North Georgia already with wins over the VMI and Wofford men’s and women’s teams. UNG lost dual meets to Georgia Southern and Morehead State. On the season, they average 2276.25 in small rifles, 2343.50 in air rifles and a total of 4619.75.
For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle at I tweetInstagram and Facebook.
