Murray State University Athletics
Racers take fourth in air rifle, ninth overall at NCAA Championships
3/13/2004 6:00:00 AM | Rifle
Senior Morgan Hicks was named a Co-Shooter of the NCAA Championships Match, along with Alaska-Fairbanks' Matt Rawlings. Hicks won the NCAA individual air rifle title, while Rawlings won the NCAA individual smallbore title.
Alaska-Fairbanks won its sixth straight rifle title with an aggregate (smallbore and air rifle scores combined) of 6273 out of a possible 6400. Nevada was second at 6185, followed by Navy at 6182, Army at 6176, Xavier at 6164, Nebraska at 6147 and Tennessee Tech at 6123. Kentucky competed in smallbore only and scored a 4663 out of a possible 4800, while Murray State competed in air rifle only and scored a 1549 out of a possible 1600.
In air rifle, UAF won with a score of 1567 out of a possible 1600. Navy was second at 1552, followed by Nevada at 1551, Murray State at 1549, Nebraska at 1545, Xavier at 1542, Army at 1538 and Tennessee Tech at 1527.
In smallbore, UAF took that team title as well with a 4706 out of a possible 4800. Kentucky was second at 4663, followed by Army at 4638, Nevada at 4634, Navy at 4630, Xavier at 4622, Nebraska at 4602 and Tennessee Tech at 4596.
Navy's Bill Kelley and Army's Ron Wigger were named Co-NCAA Coaches of the Year.
Murray State hosted the NCAA Rifle Championships for an unprecedented eighth time. MSU is the only school to have participated in every NCAA Rifle Championships since its inception in 1980, winning the NCAA titles in 1985 and 1987 and the National Rifle Association-sponsored championships in 1978.
