The fourth-ranked Murray State rifle team will return home this Saturday & Sunday to host the 2018 OVC Rifle Championship at the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range. The Racers will look to hoist the OVC title for the third time in a row and 13th time overall.
Murray State enters the championship on the back of a program-record tying performance against Morehead State last weekend, turning in a total score of 4720, which was also a season high.
In smallbore, junior MacKenzie Martin leads the way with an average of 585.8. Classmate Barbara Schläpfer follows Martin closely in the event at 584.9 and also holds the top individual smallbore score this season for the Racers, a 593 from October. Ivan Roe is currently third for the Racers in smallbore at 581.1.
In air rifle, Robert Broadstreet has been the top Racer this season with an average of 593.8, while Roe follows at 592.3. Schläpfer has also been keen in the event this and sits just two-tenths off Roe at 592.1. In addition to holding the top average, Broadstreet also holds the best single-match score at 596, a score he shot in November.
In total score, Martin and Schläpfer are one and two, respectively, at 1177.6 and 1177.0, followed by Roe at 1173.4. Martin and Schläpfer have also had the top two individual totals this year with Martin firing an 1182 in November and Schläpfer duplicating the score in January.
This weekend’s competition includes 12th-ranked Jacksonville State, 17h-ranked Morehead State, and the 18th-ranked UT Martin mixed team, as well as the Skyhawk’s women’s team which will be competing as individuals.
Saturday’s smallbore relays will take place at 9:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., while Sunday’s air rifle relays will be at 9:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., with the awards ceremony to immediately follow. Sunday’s award ceremony will be streamed live on OVCDigitalNetwork.com, beginning approximately at 2:00 p.m.
by Parker Griffith
