Murray State University Athletics
Saturday, March 12
Akron, Ohio
9:15 a.m.
Murray State
vs
NCAA Air Rifle
Players Mentioned
Photo by: Akron Athletics
Racers Finish Third at NCAA Championship
3/12/2016 2:56:00 PM | Rifle
The Murray State rifle team came in second in the air rifle event Saturday with a 2361 at the 2016 NCAA Rifle Championship at the Stile Athletic Fieldhouse in Akron, Ohio. Because the Racers tied with TCU in air rifle, but won the tie-breaker on center shots, they were unable to make up the four points needed to surpass the Horned Frogs and finished third overall in the championship with a 4690.
The third place finish for the Racers at the 2016 championship marks the third time MSU has accomplished the feat, having previously done so in 1992 and 2003. It will also go down as Murray State's seventh top three finish, as the Racers won in 1985 and 1987 and finished second in 1986 and 1988.
MacKenzie Martin led Murray State with a 593 in air rifle, to finish the first round in seventh and advance to the finals. The freshman would go on to finish fourth in the final round Sophomore Ivan Roe followed Martin with a 591, while senior Tessa Howald shot a solid 598 in her final match in the blue and gold. Sophomore Ben Estes and freshman Barbara Schläpfer rounded out the squaded shooters for MSU at 588 and 587, respectively.
West Virginia won both the smallbore and air file titles in the event, en route to their fourth straight NCAA title and 18th overall with a 4703. TCU came in second at 4694, just four points ahead of Murray State.
The championship provides a bookend to incredible season for MSU, one that saw the Racers eclipse the 4690 plateau in points for the first time in school history, a feat they would accomplish 10 more times throughout the season. Murray State would also eclipse 4700 four times, including a school record 4719 performance that propelled it to its 11th OVC title.
Quotes From Head Alan Lollar & Senior Tessa Howald
Head Coach Alan Lollar
On The Championships As A Whole:
"We are very pleased with the way we performed this weekend. Everyone on the team contributed and this season was a success because of the whole team, including our teammates that did not get to make this trip. When we came into this match, our goal, as always is to be consistent and perform to our potential. The five squad members here this weekend, did just that."
On Sophomore Ivan Roe:
"Ivan was his usual steady self this weekend. I can't say enough about his work ethic and focus. He is pretty wore out right now from all the traveling for the Olympic Trials but he had enough left for the team."
On Freshman MacKenzie Martin:
"Kenzie did a great job in her first championship. It looked like she had been here before, and this match is one of the toughest, most stressful she will ever shoot."
On Freshman Barbara Schläpfer:
"Barbara did a good job and has been a consistent contributor all year. She worked hard this weekend and I can't wait to see what she can do next year."
On Senior Tessa Howald:
"I am so happy for and proud of Tessa. As a senior, she worked harder than she ever has and really helped us stay consistent all year long. She saved one of her best matches for last and it was fun watching her shoot."
Senior Tessa Howald
On The Championships As A Whole:
"I think the most important thing is that we all came here to do our best. We all faced challenges, did not give up and shot the way we wanted to."
About It Being Her Last Match:
"At times I felt it, it's hard to not think about it being my last match. But the team made it easier. Everyone stayed focused and that helped me stay focused on the match and what I wanted to do."
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The third place finish for the Racers at the 2016 championship marks the third time MSU has accomplished the feat, having previously done so in 1992 and 2003. It will also go down as Murray State's seventh top three finish, as the Racers won in 1985 and 1987 and finished second in 1986 and 1988.
MacKenzie Martin led Murray State with a 593 in air rifle, to finish the first round in seventh and advance to the finals. The freshman would go on to finish fourth in the final round Sophomore Ivan Roe followed Martin with a 591, while senior Tessa Howald shot a solid 598 in her final match in the blue and gold. Sophomore Ben Estes and freshman Barbara Schläpfer rounded out the squaded shooters for MSU at 588 and 587, respectively.
West Virginia won both the smallbore and air file titles in the event, en route to their fourth straight NCAA title and 18th overall with a 4703. TCU came in second at 4694, just four points ahead of Murray State.
The championship provides a bookend to incredible season for MSU, one that saw the Racers eclipse the 4690 plateau in points for the first time in school history, a feat they would accomplish 10 more times throughout the season. Murray State would also eclipse 4700 four times, including a school record 4719 performance that propelled it to its 11th OVC title.
Quotes From Head Alan Lollar & Senior Tessa Howald
Head Coach Alan Lollar
On The Championships As A Whole:
"We are very pleased with the way we performed this weekend. Everyone on the team contributed and this season was a success because of the whole team, including our teammates that did not get to make this trip. When we came into this match, our goal, as always is to be consistent and perform to our potential. The five squad members here this weekend, did just that."
On Sophomore Ivan Roe:
"Ivan was his usual steady self this weekend. I can't say enough about his work ethic and focus. He is pretty wore out right now from all the traveling for the Olympic Trials but he had enough left for the team."
On Freshman MacKenzie Martin:
"Kenzie did a great job in her first championship. It looked like she had been here before, and this match is one of the toughest, most stressful she will ever shoot."
On Freshman Barbara Schläpfer:
"Barbara did a good job and has been a consistent contributor all year. She worked hard this weekend and I can't wait to see what she can do next year."
On Senior Tessa Howald:
"I am so happy for and proud of Tessa. As a senior, she worked harder than she ever has and really helped us stay consistent all year long. She saved one of her best matches for last and it was fun watching her shoot."
Senior Tessa Howald
On The Championships As A Whole:
"I think the most important thing is that we all came here to do our best. We all faced challenges, did not give up and shot the way we wanted to."
About It Being Her Last Match:
"At times I felt it, it's hard to not think about it being my last match. But the team made it easier. Everyone stayed focused and that helped me stay focused on the match and what I wanted to do."
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