The 12th-rated University of Akron rifle team turned in a school-record score of 4709 en route to posting a 4709-4685 triumph past No. 16 Morehead State on Saturday, Oct. 15.
The Zips kicked off their match with a school-record score of 2339 in the smallbore, before narrowly missing a school-record mark in the air rifle by three points. The combined score of 4709 shattered the old school record of 4705 set last January at Nebraska.
"These athletes have been working their tails off and this is the reward they get for all their hard work," said Akron head coach Newt Engle. "It is hard for me to express how proud I am of each and every one of them."
Five Zips finished the smallbore in the elite 580's. Leading the way for the Zips was freshman Andrew Duross (Marlborough, Mass.), who continued his winning ways with a score of 588 out of the possible 600 to earn him the match top-gun award for smallbore. Right on the heels of Duross was senior Andre Gross (Webster, N.Y.), who fired a 587, while junior Gavin Perkowski (Bolivar, Ohio) rounded out the top three for the Zips with a 584. The depth of this team was evidenced by sophomoreRachel Engels (Meridian, Idaho) setting an impressive personal-best mark of 583, which earned her the No. 4 slot on the team.
In the air rifle division, five Zips broke into the elite 590's. Sophomore Alexis Kirk (Clarence Center, N.Y.) led the charge with her match top-gun award winning score of 594. With identical 593's, Perkowski and Duross finished as the top three for Akron. Additionally, freshman Rachael Paddock (Perry, N.Y.) set a new personal-best mark and pushed her way into the top five with her 591.
With a well deserved weekend off, Akron will next face the US Military Academy at West Point N.Y., on Saturday, Oct. 29, where the Zips will participate in a three-way match with Army and NC State. Then the following day, Oct. 30 will be a head-to-head match with NC State. First shot on both days will be at 8:45 a.m.
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