Simon Elfrink
Staff Writer
selfrink@murraystate.edu
The Murray State Rifle team came to play in 2020-21 the home opener, beating Morehead State University 4674-4649 at Pat Spurgeon Rifle Range.
The Racers bested the Eagles in smallbore, winning 2319-2310. They also pulled ahead in air rifle as well with 2355-2339.
“I thought we had a good effort,” Head Coach Alan Lollar said. “I think we went about things the right way. The only way you can really make a good training plan for what you need to work on is actually play the game every now and then. We needed to compete to identify some things we need to work on.”
Sophomore Matias Kiuru shot an 1179 aggregate, going 586 in smallbore and 593 in air rifle. Junior Emily Fitzgerald shot a career-high 577 in smallbore, with a 589 in air rifle to total an 1166 aggregate. Senior Dana Buesseler was third for the Racers, going 581 in smallbore and 584 in air rifle for an aggregate of 1165. Freshmen Noelle Meals and Allison Henry shot 588 and 587, respectively in air rifle. Chloe Odle shot 587 in the air rifle category while Anna Scheer chalked up a score of 1161.
Lollar had good things to say about his shooters, who he said did a great job knocking the rust off in a match early on in the season.
“Matias, Dana, and Emily Fitzgerald did a good job,” Lollar said. “They were right where they should have been, so we felt good about them. Noelle Meals did a great job, had a personal best in air rifle and did a nice job there. Other people had some nice streaks where they showed what they can do, [so] it’s just working on consistency now. They’re all great shooters, it just comes to shooting on match day and being consistent.”
After the quick 2-0 start to the 2020-21 season, the Racers will take two weeks off before going head to head with the University of Tennessee at Martin on Oct. 24 at the Pat Spurgeon Rifle Range.