Kentucky rifle kicked off its season with a convincing win over Morehead State, posting a team score of 4,721 to the Eagles’ 4,637.
Morehead State obtained 2,296 in smallbore and 2,341 in air rifle, which was not enough to overcome the Wildcats’ smallbore score of 2,334 and 2,387 in air rifle.
The Wildcats started strong in smallbore behind impressive performances from Braden Peiser, freshman Brandon Evans, Elizabeth Probst and senior Allison Buesseler. Probst, Peiser and Sofia Ceccarello led the way in air rifle, while junior Martin Voss and sophomore AJ Hotko also posted strong scores.
Peiser scored a 589 in smallbore and 598 in air rifle to earn a 1,187 aggregate. He tied for second place in the air rifle competition with Ceccarello — who didn’t compete in the smallbore — although his smallbore score was the best of the day. Probst, a freshman, also led the air rifle with a 599 to cap off a great debut.
Hayden Bell of Morehead State crowned his team with a 577 in smallbore and a 581 in air rifle, which was good for an 1,158 aggregate. Adrianna Beard did not compete in smallbore, but she finished first for the Eagles in air rifle with 591.
Kentucky’s Probst hit 48 centers on her way to scoring a 599 in air rifle while Peiser and Ceccarello hit 54 centers, both finishing with 598s. Voss reached 47 centers whilst Hotko hit 39.
In the first air rifle relay, Hannah Todd finished with a score of 584 with 30 centers, while Buesseler scored a 589 with 44 centers.
Freshman Sam Adkins, who was competing in his first match as a Wildcat, earned a 597 with 49 centers in air rifle. Brandon Evans, another Freshman making his debut, also scored a confident 591 with 36 centers.
Kentucky head coach Harry Mullins was pleased with the team’s performance, citing growth and improvement as key goals for the season.
“Our whole mission this year, from start to finish, is to grow each event, grow each week,” he said. “Sometimes our numbers are going to be higher. Sometimes, it may be about where we were the last time. Might be a little bit lower because we’re pushing too hard.”
When asked about the growth he saw in his team during the opening match of the season specifically, Mullins pointed to the performances of Adkins, Peiser and Probst.
“When you look at Sam, I mean, (personal record) by five points,” he said. “You (also) have Braden and Liz coming back from Peru, less than 48 hours since they’ve been back from Peru, having to kind of gut it out and make things happen.”
The well-established coach also commented on what he would want to see in the future from his top two performers on the day.
“You know. . . just be them,” he said. “I mean, they’re phenomenal athletes. That’s kind of been our strategy and our mantra, you know, over the years past, we try to figure out who we are and if we want to be in a certain spot on the podium. We have to get better, we have to make ourselves better.”
The win was a welcoming start to the season, particularly for the four freshmen who were competing in their first collegiate match.
“Felt real good for them to do the things that they did,” Mullins said. “They kind of got the cobwebs (out), so to speak. And the first college match jitters. They do care so much and they’re very proud to be part of Kentucky that sometimes they push a little too hard and that sometimes can be a handicap for sure.”
Kentucky rifle will travel next weekend to take on Georgia Southern on Oct. 12 in Statesboro, Georgia. The Wildcats will then return home on Oct. 26 for a tri-match with Navy and North Georgia.
