LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 5 University of Kentucky rifle team is looking to build on its season-opening win last weekend as it opens the home portion of its schedule Saturday against North Carolina State inside Barker Hall.
Saturday’s competition will feature two relays with the first starting at 8 a.m. ET with sightings and preparations. Spectators are invited to watch the small scores in Barker Hall and enjoy a free breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. ET. Poland will be open to air rifle spectators. Entry is free.
“We are excited to come home and compete against the Big Blue Nation,” said UK coach Harry Mullins. “We had a good week of practice working on the details and improving every day. Our team is a work in progress right now, but we are a good team and have all the pieces to succeed. What I like is how they are responding to the training we are giving them, and I can see some confidence growing. I’m looking forward to being on the range with them again this weekend.”
Kentucky kicked off its 2022-23 season last weekend in Akron, defeating the Zipps 4705-4681 in the Big American Rifle Conference cap lifter. Freshman Sofia Ceccarello and super senior Will Shaner led the Wildcats in the match. Ceccarello posted the highest total of any competitor after a 583 in small rifle and a 599 in air rifle. Shaner was just behind her with an aggregate of 1178, earning a 584 in the pit and a 594 in the air rifle. Both Ceccarello and Shaner will not participate in this weekend’s game against NC State as they both represent their countries at the ISSF World Championships in Egypt.
Every Wildcats on the team competed in both events last weekend in Akron. Sophomore Allison Buesseler earned an aggregate of 1177 with a 586 in the small paint and a 591 in the air rifle, while sophomore Kayla Kalenza had one of her best matches of her career with a 582 in the big paint. small and 594 in air rifle for an aggregate of 1176. Junior Emmie Sellers earned a 580 in small rifle and 593 in air rifle, while super seniors Richard Clark and Mitchell Nelson both earned a total of 1171. Clark posted a 576 in rifle small and 595 in air rifle, while Nelson scored a 582 in small rifle and 589 in air rifle. Freshman Martin Voss shot a 577 in small rifle and a 594 in air rifle, while senior Jaden Thompson earned a 575 in small rifle and a 587 in air rifle. Freshman AJ Hotko, sophomore Tori Kopelen and senior Mason Hamilton rounded out the scoring. Hotko had a 573 in small rifle and 575 in air rifle, while Kopelen had a 560 in small rifle and 584 in air rifle and Hamilton scored a 562 in small rifle and 574 in air rifle.
This will be the first game of the season for NC State. The Wolfpack finished the 2021-22 season with a final ranking of no. 15 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association Top 20. Their best finish of the year with a team total of 4675 against Alaska-Fairbanks.
For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle at I tweetInstagram and Facebook.
