MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Navy rifle team picked up its second-straight Great American Rifle Conference win to start the season after a 4,660-4,639 win over Memphis on Saturday at the Memphis Rifle Facility.
 
Following a close battle in smallbore, where the Midshipmen (4-1, 2-0 GARC) only outscored the Tigers (0-3, 0-3 GARC) by seven points, Navy was able to create some separation in the air rifle portion of the competition and outscored Memphis, 2,351-2,337.
 
"We had a bit of a struggle today," said head coach Mike Anti, "but in the end, we pulled out a decent score for our first away trip of the season. Our team captain Josh Watson led the team in the smallbore event with a solid 580, followed closely by freshman Mark Amdahl. In the air rifle event, two of our freshmen -- Mark Amdahl and Gabriella Mayes had outstanding performances, leading the team in that event. I was very impressed with how the team fought through this match even when it was difficult at times."
 
For the first time all season, the Midshipmen did not have a shooter record an aggregate mark of at least 1,170. Mark Amdahl (Fr., Albuquerque, N.M.) had the best aggregate scoring for the Midshipmen with a 1,167 and Daniel Enger (So., Walla Walla, Wash.) followed with a 1,163.
 
Josh Watson (Sr., Enterprise, Ala.) had the second-highest smallbore score in the field after notching a 580 in the event to lead the Midshipmen. Enger had the second-best score count toward the team score of 2,309 in smallbore after recording a 577, while Torrance Kang (So., Columbia, Md.) and Kestrel Kuhne (Jr., Everett, Pa.) followed with a pair of 576s. As a non-starter, Amdahl finished a 578 in smallbore, which was third-best in the field. Levi Clark led the Tigers with a 583 in smallbore and he finished with a 1,168 aggregate mark to finish tied atop his team.
 
In air rifle, Gabriella Mayes (Fr., Rio Rancho, N.M.) had the highest score between the two teams with a score of 591. Mayes was also one of two individuals to score at least 590 after Leighton Dempster posted a 590 for Memphis. Amdahl just missed the 590 mark with a 589 in the event and Enger followed with a 586 for the Midshipmen. Kang recorded the final counting scoring for Navy with a mark of 585. Michael Zanti (Fr., Norfolk, Va.) fired a 588 as a non-starter for Navy to cap off his day with a total score of 1,161, which included a 573 in smallbore.
 
The duo of Clark and Dempster paced the Tigers and the field on Saturday with matching aggregate scores of 1,168. 
 
Navy climbs to 2-0 in the GARC and has its third-straight conference match on Sunday. The Midshipmen make the short trip from Memphis, Tenn., to Oxford, Miss., on Sunday to face No. 16 Ole Miss.
 
Action between Navy and Ole Miss is set to take place at the Patricia C. Lamar National Guard Readiness Center.