Morgantown, W.Va. – The West Virginia University rifle team is on fire this season! Ranked No. 3, they achieved their 17th win by beating No. 6 Navy and No. 16 Army at the WVU Shell Building. The scores were impressive: 4745-4719 against Navy and 4745-4683 against Army.
This victory is no small feat. It’s their 12th win over ranked teams this season, securing a strong 4-0 record in the Great America Rifle Conference. The Mountaineers excelled in both smallbore and air rifle, scoring 2356 and 2389, respectively. Navy shot 2338 in smallbore and 2381 in air rifle, while Army had a smallbore score of 2338 and an air rifle score of 2345.
Junior Griffin Lake led the charge, finishing first with a score of 1191. Notably, he hit a personal-best 595 in smallbore before scoring 596 in air rifle, tying for fifth place. Sophomore Jennifer Kocher and Ashlyn Blake were close behind. Kocher scored 1186, landing in third place, and Blake finished fourth with 1185. Their air rifle scores of 598 were the second-best of the day.
The team’s strong performance reflects a growing trend in collegiate rifle sports. A recent survey by the NCAA showed a 15% increase in participation in rifle programs over the past five years. This growth underscores a renewed interest in shooting sports, especially among women, who represented a significant portion of new athletes.
As the season progresses, the Mountaineers are not just focused on individual accolades but are looking ahead to their match against Kentucky on February 14. Winning this event could secure their 17th Great America Rifle Conference title, marking the program’s third consecutive championship.
If you want to keep up with the Mountaineers, check out their social media on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
With such talent and teamwork, WVU continues to make a mark in collegiate rifle sports. Keep an eye on them as they aim for even greater heights!
