Jack Berhorst, sophomore from Lawson, Mo. competes in the Murray State Tri-Match at the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range last weekend.
Despite shooting its second highest score of the season, the Racer rifle team took a two-point loss against two highly ranked opponents at the Murray State Tri-Match on Oct 25.
Head Coach Alan Lollar said the team did well against tough opponents and the scores were on par with the rest of the season.
“This is our second best score this semester,” Lollar said. “We have been training well and working hard. I thought our performance was good.”
The Racers finished their weekend with a 4,662 aggregate score, only one point behind Texas Christian and two points behind Jacksonville State.
Murray State was named No. 6 in the nation while Jacksonville State is No. 3 and TCU sits at No. 4, according the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association. Lollar said he is impressed with the scores and proud of how they are stacking up for the season.
“We shot some personal bests,” Lollar said. “We got more consistent this weekend and we’ve been consistent at a high level. That is what really matters.”
Murray State has three students that are ranked in the top 30 in the nation. Ivan Roe, freshman from Manhattan, Mont., is ranked No. 22, Kelsey Emme, senior from Piedmont, S.D., is ranked No. 24 and Tessa Howald, junior from Ozark, Mo. is ranked No. 29.
The Tri-Match brought Murray State in with an aggregate score of 2,316 in the smallbore category and a score of 2,346 in air rifle. Jacksonville State shot scores of 2,316 in smallbore and 2,348 in the air rifle while TCU shot a 2324 in the small bore and a 2,339 in the air rifle. Roe shot a personal best of 591 in the air rifle category.
The Racers have one week before they travel to Lexington, Ky., to shoot against the University of Kentucky Nov. 7 and the Army Nov. 8.
Kentucky has been a runner-up three times in the last six years in the NCAA and is ranked No. 10 while the Army is ranked No. 13.
The Racers faced two strong teams last week and are facing two more strong teams. Lollar said they will continue to work hard and improve.
Story by Kelsey Randolph, Assistant Sports Editor
