Rifle Edged by Ohio State in NCAA Qualifier

COLUMBUS – Despite shooting a near school record smallbore score, the Akron rifle team placed second behind Ohio State, 4635-4582, at this weekend's NCAA qualifier match. Scores from qualifying events nationwide are tallied and the top eight teams and select individuals are invited to participate in the NCAA championships during the second week of March.

In the smallbore division, John Hupp tied OSU's Amanda Furr for first place with a career-best 579 out of a possible 600. Hupp was not alone creating new career marks as senior Allisa Martin shot 555.

"To go to a big match and shoot a career best is the mark of a premier athlete," Akron head coach Newt Engle said.

The team total of 2281 in smallbore was short of the 2286 school record set earlier in the season.
 
In air rifle, Victoria Brown posted a fourth-place finish and career-high score of 585. Teammate Ryan Stein slid into sixth place (579).

Both Hupp and Brown await the NCAA announcement later this week of individual invitations to the championships.

The Zips will conclude the season by competing in a joint conference championship match at Michigan State on Feb. 24-25. UA competes in the Western Intercollegiate Rifle Conference (WIRC) and the Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC). Competition will start at 7 p.m. ET on Friday.