Air Force Academy

USAF Academy, Colo. - The Academy's rifle team won two matches versus the men's and women's teams of The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., over the weekend. On Saturday (Jan. 31), the Falcons scored 2,296 air rifle points versus the Bulldog's 2,129 points. The Citadel's women's team also competed in air rifle, scoring 2,115 points. In smallbore, the Falcons finished with an aggregate 2,285 points to the Bulldogs' 1,837 points. The Falcons won Saturday's match, 4,581-3,966, and The Citadel women ended the day with a score of 2,115.

The following day (Feb. 1), the Falcons pulled off a 2,293 victory in air rifle, while the Bulldogs scored 2,094. The Citadel's women's team scored 2,200 points, defeating their men's team for the first time in several years. In smallbore, Air Force outshot The Citadel by over 400 points, scoring an aggregate 2,256 to the Bulldogs' 1,850. The Falcons won Sunday's match 4549-3944, and The Citadel's women's team earned 2,200 points. The Citadel's women's team finished the weekend with an aggregate score of 4,315.

"While we are still having some ups and downs in team scoring, some of our new shooters continue to shoot personal bests in either an entire event, or in a position or two, so their development is on track," said head coach Launi Meili. "I'm starting to see some real consistencies in certain individuals, and that means a strong foundation is getting built to really grow from in the future."

Individually, sophomore Tom Chandler was the Falcons' smallbore-team leader on Saturday in the event with a 580/600. Sophomore Nick Krieger finished the day with a 572, while freshman Mike Seery scored a 568 and freshman Kyle Phillips finished with a 565 in the smallbore. Also in smallbore, senior Brian Jarrell shot a 569, which is his career best, and freshman Pat Everson also fired a smallbore personal best of 562.

In the air rifle team competition, Phillips led the Falcons with a 578/600, Chandler followed with a 572, while Seery and Everson both scored a 573 on Saturday.

On Sunday, Seery led the air rifle team scoring with a 580/600. Jarrell followed with a 573 and Phillips fired a 571. Chandler finished with a 569 in the air rifle team competition. Everson was the Falcons' highest scorer in air rifle with a score of 582/600. In the smallbore team competition, Krieger had AFA's highest score of 574/600 followed by Chandler's 569. Seery and Phillips both finished in team scoring with 565 and 548, respectively, in smallbore. Everson also shot a 562 in the smallbore competition.

"Our next match is the NCAA qualifier, so it's time to put what we've learned over the year to work and see how far we've come," said Meili.

The rifle team will travel to Houston, Texas, for the NCAA Qualifiers at TCU, Feb. 14.

Rifle Scores:

Jan. 31 -- Air Force: 4581, Citadel M: 3966, Citadel W: 2115

Feb. 1 -- Air Force: 4549, Citadel M: 3944, Citadel W: 2200