ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The 10th-ranked Navy rifle team started its 2018-19 season on Saturday with a second-place finish at home against No. 2 TCU and VMI. The Midshipmen racked up a team total of 4,664 points to finish behind only TCU with 4,711 points. VMI finished the day with a 4,470.
Kestrel Kuhne (Jr., Everett, Pa.) led Navy with an aggregate score of 1,172 and she paced the team in smallbore with a total of 579. Along with Kuhne, the Midshipmen had two other individuals surpass the 1,160 mark, where
Torrance Kang (So., Columbia, Md.) scored 1,163 points and
Mark Amdahl (Fr., Albuquerque, N.M.) was just behind with a total of 1,160 in his first collegiate event.
After Kuhne's team-leading 579 in smallbore, the duo of Kang and
Josh Watson (Sr., Enterprise, Ala.) were just behind with a pair of 578s. Amdahl notched the final score toward the team total with a 569 for his 60 shots.
Lucas Figi (Jr., Bozeman, Mont.) had a strong performance in the smallbore as a non-starter as he matched Kuhne with a total of 579. As a team, the Midshipmen recorded a 2,304 in smallbore.
Navy had a strong air rifle lineup with all five starters recording at least a 585. Kuhne led the starters in air rifle a score of 593. Amdahl continued his strong collegiate debut in air rifle after notching a 591.
Daniel Enger (So., Walla Walla, Wash.) just missed hitting the 590 threshold and fired a 589.
Michael Zanti (Fr., Norfolk, Va.) chipped in the final score towards the Midshipmen's 2,360 in air rifle following a 587 in his first collegiate event.
Gabriella Mayes (Fr., Rio Rancho, N.M.) led all Navy shooters in air rifle with a total of 594 as a non-starter. The freshman had the 10th-best aggregate score in the field with a total of 1,158.
"We had a solid start to our season today," head coach
Mike Anti said after the competition. "Our team posted a very respectable score and this was a very good starting point for the rest of the season.
Kestrel Kuhne led the team with a great performance in both events.
"I was very impressed with our freshmen, all of which showed outstanding potential, with
Gabriella Mayes leading our team in air rifle with a 594. As well as we shot today, the team recognizes area for improvement, which bodes well for our upcoming matches."
TCU finished first in the field with a total of 4,711 (2,332 in smallbore and 2,379 in air rifle). The Horned Frogs had the top-three aggregate scores for the event, where Rachel Garner led the way. She compiled a score of 1,186 over the two disciplines and posted her second-straight 599 in the air rifle to start the season.
Navy is off next weekend before its starts conference action in two weeks. The Midshipmen host Great American Rifle Conference foe Akron on Saturday, October 13 at 8:30 a.m. from the
Bancroft Hall Rifle Range.
