MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Team captain
Michael Zanti (Sr., Norfolk, Va.) set a new program record with a 599-point individual score in air rifle, leading the Navy rifle team (3-2, 1-1 GARC) to a 4,685-4,627 victory over Memphis (0-2, 0-2 GARC) in a GARC match Saturday.
The Mids tallied 2,307 points in smallbore, its second-best score in the discipline this season, along with posting a mark of 2,378 in air rifle, a new season-best total in the event. Additionally, the 4,685-point overall score was the second-highest total by the Midshipmen this season and third-highest overall score in program history.
"I am very proud of our team and our victory over Memphis," said head coach
Mike Anti. "Despite getting to our hotel at 0100 due to major flight delays, our athletes did what Midshipmen do and overcame adversity to perform at a high level. Our team posted an amazing air rifle team score, just shy of averaging 595 points per team member. This air rifle score marks as one of the highest shot by any collegiate program this season. It helped secure the win and post our second-highest team total score this season.
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Michael Zanti, our team captain, again led the way with a total score of 1,184, which included an air rifle score of 599 that was just one point short of a perfect score. That performance was can simply be described as world class. Another notable performance came from
McKenzie Shedd who totaled impressive smallbore and air rifle finishes.
Mark Amdahl was third in air rifle with a great 594, followed by
Marleigh Duncan with a 590 in air rifle. We look forward to competing against Ole Miss tomorrow and hope to improve on our smallbore performance."
Zanti continued his run of stellar performances Saturday, finishing as the top individual competitor in the competition with an overall score of 1,184. The senior tallied 585 points in smallbore along with a 599 mark in air rifle. The 1,184-point overall tally by Zanti tied his career-best aggregate score while setting a new career-best mark with the aforementioned 599-point mark in air rifle along with finishing just five points shy of his career-high point total in smallbore.
The 599-point air rifle performance by Zanti also set a new program record in the discipline, along with being just one-point shy of a perfect score, surpassing the previous-best mark of 597 set during the 2020 season against Nebraska.
McKenzie Shedd (Fr., Burke, Va.) recorded the second-best total score in the competition, totaling 1,174 points with a smallbore score of 579 and an air rifle mark of 595. The freshman's 579 points in smallbore tied a career-best mark while her score of 595 in air rifle marked a new career-best score for the newcomer.
Mark Amdahl (Sr., Albuquerque, N.M.) rounded out the top-three performers for the Mids, setting a new career-best mark in aggregate scoring with 1,168 points along with posting score of 574 in smallbore and 594 in air rifle, respectively. The score of 594 in air rifle was the senior's second-best score in the discipline this season and just two points shy of his career-high mark. Additionally, Amdahl's score of 574 in smallbore was also his second-best score in the event this season.
Clarissa Layland (So., Granbury, Texas) posted an overall mark of 1,156 points, the fifth-best score in the competition, on 573 points in smallbore and a 583-point mark in air rifle. Layland's 573 points in smallbore tied her career-best score in the discipline while her 1,156-point overall score was her third-best aggregate mark this season.
Marleigh Duncan (Fr., Wake Forest, N.C.) continued the strong start to her collegiate career, posting the sixth-highest overall score in the event with 1,155 points, just one-point shy of Layland. The freshman recorded a score of 565 in smallbore along with 590 points in air rifle.
Brianna Feerick (Sr., Pembroke, Mass.) rounded out the Midshipmen in the top-10 performers of the competition, posting 569 points in smallbore, a new season-best score, and 585 points in air rifle, just three points off her career-high mark in the event.
Also competing for Navy was
Laurel Kuhne (Sr., Everett, Pa.), who participated in only air rifle, recording a score of 572 points in the discipline.
UP NEXT
The Midshipmen will have a quick turnaround, as it is set to take on No. 4 Ole Miss Sunday in a GARC match slated to begin at 9 a.m.