March 14, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas -- For the second straight year, the Navy rifle team placed second in the air rifle discipline scoring a 2327 behind just West Virginia's 2353. The score lifted Navy into a seventh-place finish with an aggregate score of 4606. It marked the 18th striaght year Navy competed in the NCAA Championships.
West Virginia won the title with a 4643. The Mountaineers were followed by Kentucky (4638), Jacksonville State (4636), Alaska (4624), TCU (4614), Army (4611), Navy and Nevada (4586).
"I am very pleased with the team's perserverance and resiliency. This was a very close championship," said Navy head coach Bill Kelley. "We got a little too far behind in smallbore to move up too much in the overall standings, but the team did an outstanding job, never giving up.
"It was a complete team effort. While everyone would liked to have performed better, each member contributed to the team's success," said Kelley.
Leading the Navy charge was sophomore Chris Burleson, who finished eighth overall with a 686.1. He tallied a 588 in the first 60 shots, then added 98.1 points in the 10-shot final to place eighth. Senior Lisa Kunzelman closed out her fantastic collegiate career with a 584. Senior Alex Karacsonyi fired a 578, while Alison Lankes tallied a 577.
NRA All-Americans will be announced at tonight's championship banquet.
Head coach Bill Kelley was unable to accompany the team due to a pinched nerve he suffered on Wednesday morning before the team left Annapolis.
"I think the success of the team in this situation is a testimony of the leadership skills taught at the Naval Academy," said Kelley. "Focusing on the mission and do whatever you need to do to get it done - no matter the difficulties - is what this team did this weekend.
"This truly was a team effort. Much of the credit goes to Officer Representative, Maj. Brian Ross," added Kelley. "His willingness to move forward and help the Mids to do the job is an outstanding example of the kind of officers the Academy produces."
The Mids finished the season with a 17-1 overall record, the most wins in school history.
# GO NAVY #
