ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Michael Zanti (Sr., Norfolk, Va.) finished as the top-individual performer with a 1,181-point overall score to lead the ninth-ranked Navy rifle team (5-5, 2-3 GARC) to a 4,699-4,672 victory over No. 14 North Carolina State (1-4, 1-4 GARC) Friday at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range.

In addition to its victory over the Wolf Pack, the Midshipmen's 4,699-point performance set a new program-best mark in overall scoring. Navy has now set a new program-record in overall scoring in back-to-back outings after posting 4,689 points at the President's Trophy Match last time out.

Navy shot a score of 2,324 in smallbore along with tallying 2,375 points in air rifle while North Carolina State posted scores of 2,304 in smallbore and 2,368 in air rifle. The 2,324 points in smallbore were the most by the Midshipmen this season while their 2,375-point score in air rifle was their third-highest team score in the discipline this season.

"We had a very successful day on the range," said head coach Mike Anti. "I was very proud of our performance as a team and individually. Not only did our five-man team set a new school record by 10 points, we also had a number of breakthrough performances from our younger athletes. Michael Zanti against had an outstanding match. All season he has led the team with consistently high scores in both events. However, today out team MVP went to Marleigh Duncan for setting a personal best in both events and placing second overall. We also received some very exciting news today during the match that our head manager, Raelyn Manhertz, was notified she has been accepted to the University of Virginia's medical school. We are all very proud of her and thankful for everything she has done for the team." 

In addition to having the highest-overall score in the competition, Zanti finished with a match-best 586 points in smallbore, falling just one-point short of his career-best mark of 587 points. The senior also fell just two points shy of his career-high in overall scoring and matched his second-highest score in air rifle of the season at 595 points.

Joining Zanti among the top-individual performers in the competition was Marleigh Duncan (Fr., Wake Forest, N.C.) who recorded a career-best overall score of 1,179 points. Additionally, the freshman totaled career-best scores in both smallbore (584) and air rifle (595).

McKenzie Shedd (Fr., Burke, Va.) fell just one-point shy of tying her career-best aggregate score at 1,173 points, however, the newcomer did set a new career-high in smallbore at 580 points and totaled a score of 593 in air rifle, three points shy of her career-best mark in the discipline.

Mark Amdahl (Sr., Albuquerque, N.M.) turned in a solid outing with a 1,166-point mark in aggregate on 574 points in smallbore and 592 in air rifle. Rounding out the Midshipmen presence in the top-10 performers of the competition was Clarissa Layland (So., Granbury, Texas) who fell just seven points shy of her career-best overall score at 1,161 points on scores of 571 in smallbore and 590 in air rifle.

Among the top-performers outside of the starting lineup for the Mids was Brianna Feerick (Sr., Pembroke, Mass.) who shot an overall score of 1,169 points, a new-career best mark in the discipline, on 581 points in smallbore along with a score of 588 in air rifle, match her career-best score in the discipline.

Stephanie Milvain (Fr., Matthews, N.C.) set a new career-best score in smallbore at 579 points in addition to totaling 575 points in air rifle for an overall mark of 1,154 points. Newcomer Joshua Potts (Fr., Ephrata, Pa.) posted a new career-high in air rifle (584) while falling just three-points shy of his career-best mark in aggregate scoring.

Deonte Hayes (So., Fort Mill, S.C.) totaled 1,143 points in his third competition of the season while Mason MacKenzie (Jr., Henderson, Md.) and Mark Dely (So., Fort Wayne, Ind.) tallied point totals of 1,126 and 1,123, respectively. Laurel Kuhne (Sr., Everett, Pa.) participated in only air rifle against the Wolf Pack, scoring 583 points.

Leading the way for North Carolina State was Addy Burrow who posted a tremendous 596-point mark in air rifle en route to finishing with an overall score of 1,175 points. Travis Stockton rounded out the Wolf Pack presence in the top-five with a score of 1,174.

UP NEXT
Navy is set to return to action Sunday at 9 a.m. as it welcomes top-ranked Alaska to the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range. Additionally, Alaska and North Carolina State will take part in a match hosted in Annapolis on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m.