Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Ohio Valley Conference Championships
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Racers take second at OVC; shooters take seven honors
2/20/2006 6:00:00 AM | Rifle
Jacksonville State led the way with a team smallbore score of 2334 out of a possible 2400 and an air rifle score of 2337 out of a possible 2400, both match-highs. The Gamecocks finished in first place with an aggregate (smallbore and air rifle combined) score of 4671 out of a possible 4800.
Murray State fired a 2318 in smallbore and a 2315 in air rifle for an aggregate of 4633. Tennessee Tech finished third with a 2268 in smallbore and a 2257 in air rifle for a 4525 aggregate, while Tennessee-Martin's mixed team was fourth with a 2235 in smallbore and a 2252 in air rifle for an aggregate of 4487.
Tennessee-Martin's women's team was fifth with an aggregate of 4477, while Morehead State's men's team was sixth at 4440, Morehead State's women's team was seventh at 4386, and Austin Peay -- which shot only in air rifle -- was eighth at 2184.
Murray State earned seven OVC post-season honors at the Championships. Kevin Witbrodt was named OVC Freshman of the Year, while Bryant Wallizer was OVC Newcomer of the Year in smallbore and earned a spot on the All-Newcomer Team for air rifle, placing second in that category among newcomers, just one point behind the air rifle Newcomer of the Year, Heather Tillson of Tennessee-Martin.
Cameron Hicks was named to the All-OVC Smallbore First Team, joining Smallbore Shooter of the Year James Hall of Jacksonville State, Joseph Hall of Jacksonville State and Crystal Arndt of Jacksonville State.
Alex Culbertson was named to the All-OVC Air Rifle First Team, joining Air Rifle Shooter of the Year Joseph Hall, James Hall and Michael Dickinson, all of Jacksonville State.
Wallizer and Dan Belluzzo were named to the All-OVC Smallbore Second Team, joining Andrew Tucker of Tennessee Tech and Jaymi Collar of Tennessee-Martin. Hicks was named to the All-OVC Air Rifle Second Team, joining Larry Nelson of Jacksonville State, Tillson and Collar.
James Hall was named Shooter of the Year with an aggregate of 1171 out of a possible 1200. JSU's Ron Frost earned OVC Coach of the Year honors.
Murray State expects to hear Tuesday the official word from NCAA officials as to whether the Racers will participate in the NCAA Championships for the 26th time in the 27-year history of the event.
