ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Our Sunday Salute series continues this week with the Navy rifle team who qualified for the 2020 NCAA National Championship but were unable to compete due to the event being canceled.
 
The Midshipmen were set to make their second-straight appearance at the national championship as a team after they qualified seventh overall with a qualification score of 9,357 points.
 
During the 2019-20 season, Navy captured a Star Match victory over Army in a 5,828-5,787 contest at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range. The Midshipmen also continued to rewrite the program record book with numerous record-breaking performances this past season. Navy set a new four-count program record with a combined score of 4,685 points in its NCAA Qualifier against John Jay and also set the air rifle team record with a 2,369 against John Jay on Feb. 22.
 
Individually, Mark Amdahl (So., Albuquerque, N.M.) posted the second-highest aggregate score in school history with a 1,183 against John Jay to help Navy qualify for the NCAA Championship. On Jan. 19 against Nebraska, Gabriella Mayes (So., Rio Rancho, N.M.) set the program record for best air rifle round with a 597 for Navy. Mayes also represented the Midshipmen on the NRA All-American list after being named as an Air Rifle Honorable Mention All-American. 
 
Navy's 2020 senior class of Lucas Figi (Bozeman, Mont.) and Kestrel Kuhne (Everett, Pa.) helped Navy to back-to-back NCAA National Championships and back-to-back Star Match wins over rival Army. Kuhne was also set to make her third-straight appearance at the national championship after competing as an individual during the 2018 event. Kuhne also garnered Honorable Mention All-American honors in air rifle during her junior season.
 
Navy Rifle Class of 2020
Lucas Figi – Bozeman, Mont. – Major: General Engineering – Service Selection: Marine Corps Ground
Kestrel Kuhne – Everett, Pa. – Major: Cyber Operations – Service Selection: Naval Flight Officer