ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Michael Zanti (Jr., Norfolk, Va.) of the Navy rifle team was selected as the NAAA Athlete of the Week, presented by Northrop Grumman, following his career day in the Midshipmen's win over VMI in their season opener this past weekend.
 
Zanti paced the field in all three scoring categories as Navy went on to beat the Keydets, 4,658-4,493, on Saturday. The junior started the afternoon with a total of 584 in smallbore, which was best in the field by six points, and surpassed his previous personal best of 582.
 
In air rifle, Zanti fired a 596 for the Midshipmen and he just missed the program record by a point, which was set last season by fellow junior Gabriella Mayes (Rio Rancho, N.M.). Zanti finished the day with an aggregate score of 1,180 points and beat out his previous career-high by five points. The 1,180 from Zanti also just missed entering the top five of the program record books as he was one point away from a three-way tie for fifth.
 
Coming into this year, Zanti had finished the 2019-20 season ranked second on the team in both disciplines, while finishing tied for first in aggregate scoring. He finished last year's campaign with a 576.0 smallbore mark, to go along with averages of 589.4 and 1,165.4 in air rifle and aggregate scoring, respectively.
 
Navy continues its homestand this Saturday as it hosts North Carolina State in the first GARC competition of the year.