CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Navy rifle team (9-9) finished the weekend 3-0 with a sweep of Georgia Southern (14-2) and The Citadel women on Saturday before defeating The Citadel coed team (2-15) on Sunday. On Saturday, Navy tallied a school-record score of 2358 in smallbore en route to a program record 4727 to defeat the Eagles (4714 points) and Bulldogs (2701). On Sunday, the Mids notched a 4710-4612 win against The Citadel coed team.
 
"I first have to thank Coach Lou MacKenzie for doing an outstanding job with the team this weekend," head coach Mike Anti said. "I was not able to travel because of an illness, but Coach Lou stepped in and did not miss a beat.
 
"We had another record-breaking performance at The Citadel this weekend," Anti added. "After last weekend at Army, that is back-to-back program records. I am very pleased with how our team is shooting this second half of the season."
 
Freshman Isabella Baldwin led the way over the weekend shooting an average aggregate score of 1182.5, just one point ahead of senior Clarissa Layland and junior Marleigh Duncan who each tallied combined score of 1181.5.
 
"I think just about every athlete on our team shot a personal best at some point during the weekend," remarked Anti. "Marleigh Duncan earned MVP on Saturday and Isabella Baldwin was our MVP for Sunday. Clarissa Layland also had an amazing weekend posting some of her highest scores in both events on each day."
 
Navy returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 17 as the Midshipmen host John Jay at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range for the NCAA Qualifier. Competition begins at 9:00 a.m. and live results will be available.
 
Day 1 Recap: Navy 4727, Georgia Southern 4714, Citadel (W) 2701
Navy opened the weekend with a record-setting day. The Midshipmen began competition with a combined score of 2358 in smallbore, setting a new program record. The Mids added an air rifle score of 2369 to finish the day with an aggregate tally of 4727 for a new Navy school record.
 
"Saturday's score of a 4727 is a school record, but our smallbore score that day was just incredible. To shoot a 2358, everyone has to be on their game. The only team in the nation that has shot higher than that this season is No. 1 ranked West Virginia. We struggled a bit in air rifle but held on to beat fifth-ranked Georgia Southern."
 
Duncan led the Midshipmen on the first day of competition. She tied a career-high with a smallbore score of 592, while adding a 593 in air rifle for a season-best aggregate total of 1185.
 
Baldwin and Layland each finished Saturday with aggregate scores of 1184. Baldwin, who tied her season-best aggregate performance, carded scores of 588 in smallbore and 596 in air rifle. For Layland, the 1184 was a new career best. The senior set a new career high in smallbore with a 591 to go with a 593 in air rifle for her new personal-best score.
 
Stephanie Milvain followed with an aggregate score of 1176, tying her career-best performance. The junior posted season-best tallies in both smallbore (587) and air rifle (589) on the day.
 
Junior Joshua Potts finished Saturday's competition with a season-best score of 1170, tying season-high marks in both smallbore (581) and air rifle (589). Freshman Ryan Wee used scores of 582 (smallbore) and 585 (air rifle) for a total of 1167. One point back of Wee was Devonte Hayes, who set a new season-high with an aggregate score of 1166 thanks to a 579 in smallbore and a 587 in air rifle. Devin Uhrich rounded out the scoring with an 1153 (573 SB; 580 AR).
 
Day 2 Recap: Navy 4710, Citadel 4612
On the second day of competition, Navy once again topped the 4700-point plateau, outscoring match-host The Citadel, 4710-4612. A day after setting the program record in smallbore with a 2358, the Mids turned in a smallbore score of 2354 to finish just off the record-setting pace. The Midshipmen combined for a 2356 in air rifle for the team score of 4710.
 
"Sunday was another great day in smallbore, shooting just four points below Saturday's record-setting performance and ending with a 4710 final score. After this weekend we also moved from 11th to ninth ranked."
 
Baldwin led all shooters with an aggregate score of 1181. The freshman finished with a new smallbore high of 594 to go with a 587 in air rifle to pace the squad.
 
Layland finished two points back with a scorecard of 1179 thanks to a 584 in smallbore and a 595 in air rifle. Her score of 595 in air rifle was one point shy of the senior's career high. Duncan used a balanced attack in smallbore (590) and air rifle (588) to finish one point shy of Layland with an 1178.
 
Potts improved his performance from Saturday by five points to finish with an 1175, giving the junior a new season high. He used season-best scores of 584 in smallbore and 591 in air rifle to set a new top season performance.
 
Milvain and Uhrich matched one another with aggregate scores of 1167. Milvain used scores of 586 (smallbore) and 581 (air rifle), while Uhrich set career highs in smallbore (579), air rifle (588), and aggregate (1167).
 
Wee and Hayes rounded out the scoring for the Midshipmen. Wee finished with an 1161, while Hayes turned in a final score of 1155. Wee was balanced with a 579 in smallbore and a 582 in air rifle. Hayes shot a 569 in smallbore, but upped his total to 586 in air rifle to close out his weekend.