Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
OVC Championships
Racers Second In OVC Championship, Win Smallbore Title
2/10/2008 6:00:00 AM | Rifle
The Murray State rifle team won the smallbore competition at the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Rifle Championships, but finished second in the overall competition, falling to four-time OVC champion Jacksonville State. The OVC Championships were held on Feb. 9-10 at Morehead, Ky.
Murray State interim head coach Alan Lollar was named OVC Rifle Coach of the Year.
Murray State won the smallbore competition with a team score of 2275 out of a possible 2400. Kevin Witbrodt, who was named OVC Smallbore Athlete of the Year, fired a tournament-best 573 out of a possible 600. Four of his six targets scored 96 or better, including a 100 and a 99 in the prone position. (Smallbore competitions are conducted in three position: prone, standing and kneeling.) Witbrodt tied for first with Morehead State's Elizabeth Lyon, but he won the award on tie-breakers.
Cameron Hicks tied for third overall with a 572 in smallbore, with four of his targets scoring 95 or better. Dan Belluzzo was fifth in the smallbore competition with a 571, with four of his targets at 96 or better. Harley Jette had a 559 to round out the Racer scoring.
Belluzzo, Hicks and Witbrodt were named to the All-OVC Smallbore Team, joining Lyon and Jacksonville State's Michael Dickinson and Jonathan Hall.
Jacksonville State was second in smallbore, shooting a 2268, while Tennessee Yech was third at 2224, UT Martin's women's team was fourth at 2191, Morehead State's men's team was fifth at 2187, UT Martin's mixed team was sixth at 2049 and Morehead State's women's team was seventh at 1594.
Murray State placed second in the air rifle competition, scoring a 2308 out of a possible 2400. Belluzzo tied for fifth individually with a 580 out of a possible 600, shooting consistently, with one target score of 98, two of 97 and three of 96. Witbrodt was seventh in air rifle at 579, with two 98s and three 96s, while Kasey Meyer was ninth with a 576, scoring a 98, three 96s and a 95. Hicks placed 11th out of the 28 shooters with a 573, equaling the highest single target score of the tournament with a 99 on his first target.
Belluzzo, Meyer and Witbrodt were named to the All-OVC Air Rifle Second Team, joining Lyon and Jacksonville State's Matt McKenzie.
Jacksonville State won the air rifle competition with a team score of 2324. Tennessee Tech was third at 2255, UT Martin's women's team was fourth at 2246, Morehead State's men's team was fifth at 2227, UT Martin's mixed team was sixth at 2147 and Morehead State's women's team was seventh at 1587.
Jacksonville State won the OVC title with an aggregate (smallbore and air rifle combined) score of 4592 out of a possible 4800. Murray State was second, just nine points back at 4583, while Tennessee Tech was third at 4479. UT Martin's women's team was fourth at 4437, Morehead State's men's team was fifth at 4414, UT Martin's mixed team was sixth at 4196 and Morehead State's women's team was seventh at 3181.
Witbrodt had the third-best aggregate score among the individuals, with an 1152 out of a possible 1200. Belluzzo was fourth at 1151, while Hicks was seventh at 1145. JSU's Hall had the best individual aggregate at 1158, while JSU's Dickinson was second with an 1154.
Murray State will next take part in the NCAA qualifier, held this weekend at Jacksonville, Ala.
