ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Sixteenth-ranked Navy (3-4, 1-2 GARC) had a record day in a virtual match against No. 2 Kentucky (8-0, 4-0 GARC) as the Midshipmen posted a total score of 4,686 points to set a new program record. Navy also set a program-best in air rifle after racking up 2,373 points in the discipline and posted a season-high 2,313 in smallbore to finish off its fall slate.
 
The Midshipmen's previous program records in air rifle and aggregate scoring came this past spring against John Jay on February 20, 2020, when Navy posted scores of 2,369 and 4,685, respectively.
 
"We had a great match today setting a new school record in air rifle and overall scoring," head coach Mike Anti commented after the competition. "This is the type of performance our team is capable of and even more if we clean up a few mistakes. Again, Michael Zanti led the team with a team-high in smallbore and a very respectable air match. But in addition, other team members had great performances. Deonte Hayes, one of our freshmen, shot an amazing smallbore match beating his previous high score by 13 points. Luke Knollinger had one of his best career performances and shot solid scores in both events. Gabriella Mayes and Mark Amdahl shot amazing in air rifle with both posting 595s.
 
"This was our last match of this unusual fall semester but we look forward to picking up where we left off to start the spring semester."
 
In smallbore, Michael Zanti (Jr., Norfolk, Va.) once again guided the Midshipmen as he posted a career-best of 585 points. Mark Amdahl (Jr., Albuquerque, N.M.) followed with a 580 for his best smallbore mark of the season. The final two counting scores for the Midshipmen came from Gabriella Mayes (Jr., Rio Rancho, N.M.) and Brianna Feerick (Jr., Pembroke, Mass.) with scores of 575 points and 573 points, respectively. Navy's 2,313 surpassed its previous season-high of 2,310 that was set against North Carolina State in October. As non-starters, Deonte Hayes (Fr., Fort Mill, S.C) fired a 576 for his personal-best and Luke Knollinger's (Sr., Valley Grove, W. Va.) 579 was two points away from his career-high but is a new season-best.
 
The Midshipmen posted four counting scores of at least 590 points in air rifle for the first time this season en route to setting the program record. The junior pair of Amdahl and Mayes had the top-two scores for Navy with matching 595s. Zanti posted his sixth-straight score in the 590s to start the season after scoring 593 points on Saturday. Senior captain Torrance Kang (Columbia, Md.) rounded out the Midshipmen's 2,373 with a season-high 590. After just missing his career-high in smallbore, Knollinger did set a new personal-best in air rifle with a 589 to conclude a career day with 1,168 points in overall scoring. Clarissa Layland (Fr., Granbury, Texas) tied her career score in air rifle after posting a 587 as a non-starter.
 
Zanti continued his run as Navy's top overall scorer as his 1,178 paced the Midshipmen against the Wildcats. Amdahl was just behind with a 1,175 for a new season-best. Mayes and Kang also finished the day with new season-highs in overall scoring with totals of 1,170 and 1,162, respectively.
 
Kentucky finished the day with a new season-high of its own after totaling 4,737 points, which included a 2,352 in smallbore and 2,385 points in air rifle. After setting an NCAA record last time out with a 1,195, Mary Tucker followed it up with a 1,193 behind a 594 in smallbore and she just missed her second-straight 600 with a 599 on Saturday. Will Shaner posted a 598 in air rifle and finished with an overall mark of 1,187.
 
Scores from this match do not go towards NCAA qualification but will be used for GARC purposes.
 
With the fall slate in the books, Navy is now slated to return to action during the spring semester.