ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The eighth-ranked Navy rifle team (7-2) finished second overall at the President's Trophy Match on Saturday after posting a score of 5,829 points. No. 5 Air Force (6-1) won the President's Trophy for the fifth-straight season after compiling a score of 5,856.
 
In NCAA scoring – starting five and counting four scores – the Midshipmen earned victories over No. 14 Army (4,665-4,662) and Coast Guard (4,665-4,559). Air Force also beat Navy in NCAA scoring, 4,687-4,665. 
 
The President's Trophy match features all four service academies starting eight shooters with the top five scores counting toward the President's Trophy team score. Following the Falcons and Midshipmen in the team standings for the President's Trophy, the Black Knights (4-3) finished third with a total of 5,804 points and Coast Guard (0-6) rounded out the competition with a score of 5,677.
 
"Our consistent shooting continued this weekend," head coach Mike Anti said following the match. "We again shot in the mid-60s, which is a decent team score but we need to gain another 10 points to be competitive at the national level. We definitely have the ability and skill but we just need to clean up a few mistakes.
 
"Kestrel has another great showing leading the team in both events with a match-winning score of 595 in the air rifle event. We also had eight scores above 570 in smallbore, which shows great depth in our team. It was encouraging to beat Army in both the NCAA match the President's Trophy Match, but way too close for comfort."
 
Navy racked up a score of 2,889 points in smallbore with Kestrel Kuhne (Jr., Everett, Pa.) compiling a score of 581 for the Midshipmen. She was the lone Navy shooter to reach 580 points as Torrance Kang (So., Columbia, Md.) was just behind with a 579. Daniel Enger (So., Walla Walla, Wash.) posted a score of 578 and Michael Zanti (Fr., Norfolk, Va.) notched a 576. Senior captain Josh Watson (Sr., Enterprise, Ala.) had the final counting score for the President's Trophy was a score of 575.
 
Following the smallbore portion of the event, Air Force led the way with a 2,909, followed by Navy at 2,889. Army recorded a 2,858 in smallbore, while Coast Guard compiled a 2,790.
 
Kuhne finished her day with a career-high 595 in air rifle. After finishing a point shy of her career-best twice this season, Kuhne finally set her new personal best in the discipline on Saturday afternoon. She finished with a team-high 1,176 aggregate score, which was two points off of her career best. Kuhne also finished tied atop the field in aggregate scoring with Air Force's Peter Fiori at 1,176, while Kuhne led the field in air rifle.
 
Kang matched her season-high in air rifle with a 588 and Zanti matched Kang with a 588 to help Navy record a 2,940 in air rifle. Mark Amdahl (Fr., Albuquerque, N.M.) finished the event with a 586 and Luke Knollinger (Valley Grove, W. Va.) had the final counting score for the President's Trophy with a 583.
 
The Falcons edged the Black Knights in air rifle with scores of 2,947 and 2,946, respectively. Navy was just behind with a 2,940 in air rifle and the Bears posted a 2,887 in the discipline. 
 
Kang finished with her best aggregate score of the season with a total of 1,167 points, which was fifth in the field. Zanti also had a top-10 aggregate mark of 1,164 for the Midshipmen. 
 
Navy concludes the 2018 portion of its schedule in two weeks against No. 3 Kentucky at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range on November 17 with the competition beginning at 8:30 a.m.