Story by Keenan Hall
Staff writer
khall16@murraystate.edu
Looking to carry momentum over from the fall, Murray State rifle outscored Jacksonville State 4689-4647 in their first spring match on Saturday, Jan. 19.
The Racers dominated the Gamecocks, seizing four of the top five individual aggregate scores.
Senior Barbara Schläpfer led all shooters finishing first in smallbore with 589 points. Schläpfer also finished first in air rifle with 595 points. Senior MacKenzie Martin came in second in individual scores with 1172 points, while finishing second in smallbore with 587 points.
Another senior, Alathea Sellars, closed the match by coming in third on both guns. Sellars achieved a 591 in air rifle and a 578 in smallbore. Freshman Kelcy McGrath finished fifth in individual scores after posting a 578 in smallbore and 587 in air rifle.
Head Coach Alan Lollar said he was proud of the start to the team’s second half of the season.
“I was really happy with the first match of the year; I thought we had a good start,” Lollar said. “Kelcy had a great day, Barbara was solid like she always is. MacKenzie did a great job in smallbore. Alathea was exceptional in both guns, and my freshman Kelcy had a nice day as well.”
Looking forward to next weekend, the Racer rifle team will host the 2019 Withrow Invitational. The match will bring in some formidable programs. Five of the seven teams competing are ranked in the top-30 in the previous Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association poll, including Murray State.
During the week leading up to the match, Lollar said this is just another week to continue to improve on execution and finishing matches strong.
“We will try to work on some stuff and continue to get consistent,” Lollar said. “We have to do some things in our match execution and in our planning. We have to be a little cleaner in what we’re trying to do.”
The Withrow Invitational will officially begin at 9 a.m. on Friday. Jan. 25, at Pat Spurgin Rifle Range.