March 14, 2008

Complete Smallbore Results and Team Scores

WEST POINT, NY- The Alaska sharpshooters find themselves in a tie for second place at the end of the first day of the NCAA Rifle Championships in West Point, New York. The Nanooks amassed 2,312 points in the smallbore discipline, putting them even with Texas Christian University. The event's hosts, the Black Knights of Army, dominated the smallbore scoreboard, taking the top three spots on the way to 2,318 points.

"The team did really well: everyone shot what they should," head coach Dan Jordan said afterwards. "Coming into it, I knew smallbore was going to be close. We have lost several smallbore portions of matches throughout the year, so I figured if we could keep it close, that leaves us with a really good chance tomorrow."

Opening the meet for the Nanooks, freshman Cody Rutter tied a career-high smallbore score by shooting 581, posting the only perfect 200 in his relay from the prone position. Rutter, who has been in top form for the Nanooks in the latter half of this season, finished eighth overall in the competition, and was the only Blue and Gold shooter to qualify for the afternoon finals.

"It was really tough [to qualify for the finals]: having 12 people shoot over 580 today is by far the highest scores ever at NCAA's as a group," said Jordan. "So for Cody to be the first shooter out, put up a 581, and make the final is huge for a freshman. That experience should give him a ton of confidence for the future."

Alaska was also boosted by typical solid performances from Sweden's Patrik Sartz and Christofer Olofsson. Sartz was well in contention for a final spot, going neck and neck most of the way with Army's Stephen Scherer, until a tough stretch from the kneeling position knocked him back to a 578. Olofsson likewise just missed out on the finals with his 580, as West Virginia's Andy Lamson knocked the junior out via a tiebreaker by shooting 99 in his final ten shots.

Eagle River native Billy Galligan rounded out the Nanooks scores with a 573. Galligan finished strong, drilling the ten-ring on nine of his final 10 shots to recover well from a tough round of 90 from the standing position.

In all fairness, the Black Knights were good value for their six-point lead, as they recorded three of the top eight scores (including a 588 from eventual champion Chris Abalo) to give them a six-point advantage heading into the final day. Scherer and Brian Kern both shot 582 on the day.

The damage could have been even worse, as David Amiot shot a four and a seven in his final string to finish with just 566 points.

"Army was phenomenal," Jordan said. "To have three guys make the final and end up going 1-2-3, they deserved to win it. They shot great."

Nevertheless, Jordan and the Nanooks are still confident about their position heading into tomorrow's air rifle shoot: a discipline in which the team excels.

"We've by far had the best air gun teams in the country this year. If we can put up what we have throughout the season, then we have a great chance of walking away with the overall title tomorrow. A three to four point gap would have been comfortable, six is still doable. Even if they would have been 10 points up, I'd still think we have a great chance."

The Nanooks conclude their season tomorrow, as they head to Christl Arena on the West Point campus for the air gun portion of the NCAA Championships. First relays are set to start at 4:30 a.m. Alaska time, with the finals scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Updated scores can be seen by clicking here.