1/19/2002 - Rifle
Eighth-Ranked Navy Rifle Defeats Coast Guard, 6148-6074

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy rifle team, ranked eighth nationally, improved its dual-match record to 5-0 on the 2001-02 season with a 6148-6074 victory over service academy rival Coast Guard Saturday morning at the Bancroft Range.

In the smallbore discipline, the four-man team of David Bachta (Sr./Colorado Springs, Colo.), Bill Tolson (Sr./Oak Harbor, Wash.), Mike Miller (Fr./Albuquerque, N.M.) and team captain Luke Shank (Sr./Fort Wayne, Ind.) -- who had match-high honors with his 1165 score -- combined to topple Coast Guard, 4614-4577. Navy's score was its highest in the discipline this season.

Shank and Miller later teamed with James Kauber (Jr./Burlington, Wash.) and Marta Jung (So./Reno, Nev.) in leading the Mids to a 1534-1497 victory in the air rifle discipline. And though not included in the four-person team scoring, Walter Warren (Sr./San Antonio, Texas) had the match's highest air rifle score with his 388 mark.

"We shot really well for the first match back since winter break," said third-year Navy rifle coach Bill Kelley. "We still have a ways to go in preparing for the (March 8-9) NCAA Championships, but we did have our best smallbore score of the season today, which is very encouraging."

Navy will next compete on Jan. 26 when they play host to Virginia Military Institute (VMI) at 8 a.m. in the Bancroft Range.