ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy rifle team (10-7) posted its best score of the season and set a new program record in its NCAA Qualifier Match against John Jay (5-9) as the Midshipmen compiled a 4,685 on Saturday and the
Bancroft Hall Rifle Range. Navy also set a program mark in air rifle following a 2,369 in the discipline.
With the 4,685 on Saturday, the Midshipmen climbed from 10th to seventh in the NCAA qualification standings with three more qualifiers to go. The Midshipmen now have a qualification total of 9,357 points, which is eight points ahead of eighth-place Air Force, who sits at 9,351 and ninth-place Army's 9,332.7. The NCAA announces the eight-team field on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. on NCAA.com.
"We are really proud of our team. In one of the biggest matches of the year, they shot their highest score of the season and set a new school record," head coach
Mike Anti said after the competition. "Everyone did really well, especially
Mark Amdahl setting a new overall individual school record. We were sitting in 10th-place nationally going into this NCAA Qualifier, so now it is a waiting game to see if we can break into the top eight and qualify for the NCAA Championships."
Mark Amdahl (So., Albuquerque, N.M.) paced the Midshipmen with a career day and fired a 1,183 overall, which was backed by a 587 in smallbore and a 596 in air rifle. Amdahl's 596 was a point shy of the program record, which
Gabriella Mayes (So., Rio Rancho, N.M.) set earlier this season with a 597.
In smallbore,
Michael Zanti (So., Norfolk, Va.) joined Amdahl with a mark over 580 as he notched a 581 in the discipline. The Midshipmen's final two counting scores in the event came from Mayes and
Torrance Kang (Jr., Columbia, Md.) with a pair of 574s as Navy posted a 2,316 in smallbore. The smallbore total for the Midshipmen was their second-highest of the season behind a 2,317 against Ole Miss on Jan. 17.
Following a strong round in smallbore, Navy carried its momentum over to air rifle and broke another school record with a 2,369. The Midshipmen counted four scores in the 590s with Amdahl's 596 leading the way. Kang followed with a 592 in the event and Zanti notched a 591. Mayes rounded out Navy's record-breaking day with a 590. Navy's previous school record in air rifle came against Nebraska on Jan. 19 when the Midshipmen recorded a 2,365.
Navy had the top-six overall shooters in the field with Zanti finishing right behind Amdahl in overall scoring with a 1,172, which set a new season-best and was one point shy of tying his career-high.
The Midshipmen are back in action next weekend for the GARC Championship in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday and Saturday.
