The Morehead State rifle team, under the direction of third-year Head Coach Alan Joseph, opens its 2016-17 campaign this weekend with home matches against Virginia Military Institute and Jacksonville State.
MSU entertains VMI at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday in the Button Rifle Ranges, and the match with JSU will begin at approximately 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
Morehead State is ranked 17th in the nation in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association poll. The Eagles also finished last season with five athletes named to the Collegiate Rifle Association's Scholastic All-American team.
"We are extremely excited to get the season officially going," said Joseph. "Our scores in practice have been excellent, and now we must translate that into matches and build on each match and make improvements."
Joseph's squad features seven returnees and four freshmen. Juniors Haley Wilson, Joe Fischer and Seth Baker all saw significant time on the range last year. Also returning are junior Dan Hall and sophomores Melanie West, Brandon Bryer, and Siarra "CC" Crum.
Wilson, named Second-Team All-OVC, led the team in overall average last season with a scorecard of 1145.8. She also tied the school aggregate record of 1166 versus Murray State. Wilson shot a career-high 588 in air rifle versus Murray State, while also posting four other scores of 580 or better.
Fischer, a native of Stoystown, Pa., was third on the team in overall average last season with a score of 1142.5. He tied a career-best last season by shooting 577 in smallbore against Akron. Fischer also posted a team-high average of 570.00 in small bore last season.
Baker, a native of Saxton, Pa., shot an average of 1139.7 in 12 matches last season. He shot season-bests 576 in smallbore and 582 in air rifle versus Kentucky/Navy. Baker also added a 579 air rifle score versus Jacksonville State.
"Rifle is about 90 percent mental and the rest physical," said Baker. "I feel like if we are ready to go each time out and we come together as a team - all on the same day, we can have a really great season."
Hall, a native of Green Bay, Wis., shot an average of 1135.1 in 12 matches last season. He shot career-bests 577 in smallbore and 583 in air rifle versus Kentucky/Navy.
West, a Waterford, Mich. native, averaged 1120.1 across 10 smallbore and 11 air rifle matches. She posted two air rifle performances of 580 or better, including a season-best 583 versus VMI.
Bryer, a Scarborough, Maine native, averaged 1119.2 in 11 matches last season. He shot a season-high 563 in smallbore versus Jacksonville State and also posted season-highs of 575 in air rifle three times.
Crum, a Portage, Pa. native, participated in 11 matches last season and ranked second on the team with an air rifle average of 577.2. She had five matches of 580 or better, with a season-high 584 in air rifle versus Kentucky/Navy.
Newcomers looking to gain their first collegiate experience are Sarah Fink, Jesse Moyer, and twins Alexa and Karly Potts.
"The four newcomers have infused a lot of energy and enthusiasm into our team," said Joseph.
