March 10, 2007
FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- The Navy rifle team closed out its season with a fifth-place finish in the air rifle discipline after firing a 2336 on Saturday on the final day of the NCAA rifle championships. Coupled with yesterday's score of 2253 in smallbore, the Mids finished seventh overall with a combined score of 4589. Alaska-Fairbanks won its second straight NCAA title by winning both disciplines and finishing with a combined score of 4662.
It was an extremely competitive race following Alaska-Fairbanks and Jacksonville (2348), the top two finishers in Saturday's air rifle discipline. Four teams were separated by one point, with Army claiming third with a 2337, winning a tiebreaker over Kentucky, which also fired a 2337. Navy then won a tiebreaker over Nebraska for fifth, as both teams fired a 2336.
"It was obviously extremely competitive. The top seven teams were decided by just 24 points. There are a lot of good air rifle teams across the country," said Navy head coach Bill Kelley.
Individually, Lisa Kunzelman just missed a spot in the eight-person finals by one point, accumulating a 587. Sarah Bergman fired a 585, Alex Karacsonyi shot a 583 and Josh Albright tallied a 581. Albright won Friday's NCAA smallbore individual title.
"We had a pretty good day on the range, especially after Friday's performance," said Kelley. "We didn't have any great scores, but four very solid scores, which is what you need to be successful here."
The Mids entered the tournament with the eighth-best score on the year, and finished the tournament seventh. Navy was in eighth after yesterday's smallbore score.
"We could have folded the tent after yesterday, but I was pleased with how we came out today and performed," said Kelley. "They wanted to end on a good note and did that today."
The Mids, which finished the dual season with a 9-4 overall mark, competed in their 16th straight NCAA Championships over the weekend. Navy will lose a pair of seniors, Sarah Bergman and Chris Schneider, from its regular lineup, but will return three shooters that competed over the weekend.
NAVY INDIVIDUAL AIR RIFLE SCORES-- Lisa Kunzelman 587 - 9th-- Sarah Bergman 585-- Alex Karacsonyi 583-- Josh Albright 581
OVERALL SCORES (AIR RIFLE / SMALLBORE)1. Alaska-Fairbanks 4662 (2354 / 2308)2. Army 4644 (2337 / 2307)3. Jacksonville 4639 (2348 / 2291)4. Kentucky 4636 (2337 / 2299)5. Nebraska 4623 (2336 / 2287) Texas Christian 4623 (2330 / 2293)7. Navy 4589 (2336 / 2253)8. Murray State 4565 (2303 / 2262)
# GO NAVY #
