Looks like they stepped it up for the MAC Championship! They really gave the #3 team in the country a run for their money!! Nice work guys and gals! I think there is an addition error though, from what the final score was, the margin of victory was 51 points.
Akron #2 in Mid Atlantic Rifle Conference
The University of Akron Rifle Team competes in two conferences. Only one week ago the Zips were crowned conference champions in the 10 member Western Intercollegiate Rifle Conference (WIRC). And this weekend, the Zips earned an invitation to compete in the Mid Atlantic Rifle Conference (MAC) championships held at MIT. The 22 member MAC is the largest rifle conference in the US and is divided into classifications based on scores. The Akron sharpshooters have earned a position in the master class, which is the highest classification in the conference. Five schools have achieved master class skills. Only the top two schools from each class are invited to the championships. At the MAC championships, Akron faced off against the US Naval Academy, currently the #3 team in the nation,. The midshipmen maintained their advantage finishing a slim 49 points ahead of the Zips, (2313 to 2264).
Akron’s Joe Milano lead the charge with a very impressive smallbore rifle score of 576 out of a possible 600. This score earned Milano the bronze medal, 3rd place over all match honors just behind Navy’s Matthew Albright (590) and Mike Miller (580). And breaking into the 570’s for the first time in her career, Freshman sensation Laura Kuntz finished #4 overall with an outstanding 572. Kuntz actually tied Navy’s Marta Jung (572) but won the tie breaker. “I knew it would happen!†exclaimed Coach Newt Engle, “Joe and the rest of the team have been shooting great with Laura steadily catching up. I knew it was only a matter of time till she broke into the 570’s.â€
Norwich University fired against Navy for the air rifle championships, while several Zips fired for individual honors. And honor the Akron tradition they did, as Junior Sarah Kramer finished #5 overall with her 383 out of 400 followed closely by teammate Joe Milano in the #6 slot with his 382.
This match will conclude the regular season for Akron Rifle. This season has established many new school records, brought home the first WIRC championship title, finished #2 overall in the MAC, and ranked as the #17 rifle team in the entire USA. “If you think what we did this year was impressive,†states coach Engle, “just wait till next season.†With no seniors on the team, the entire squad will return with some exciting new additions. Coach Engle will be making an announcement in the near future detailing who will be joining the 2004-05 Zips Rifle team.
Smallbore Rifle Scores: * Selected as 4 person team member
576* Joe Milano #3 Overall at championship match, Bronze medal winner.
572 Laura Kuntz **New Personal Best** #4 Overall at championship match
571* Sarah Kramer #6 Overall at championship match
567* Angela Engle
557 Emily Kuntz
550* Tom Colston
2264 Akron Smallbore Team Total
Air Rifle Individual Scores: * Selected as 4 person team member
383* Sarah Kramer #5 Overall at championship match.
382* Joe Milano #6 Overall at championship match
378* Angela Engle
373 Tom Colston
373* Laura Kuntz
1516 Akron Air Rifle Team Total
Smallbore Team Results, MAC Master Class Championship Match
#1. U. S. Naval Academy
#2. The University of Akron
#3. Norwich University
#4. Duquesne University
#5. U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Air Rifle Team Results, MAC Master Class Championship Match
#1. U. S. Naval Academy
#2. Norwich University
#3. The University of Akron
#4. Duquesne University
#5. U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Based on win-loss record, season averages, and championship match results, in that order. Complete results are at: http://www.mac-rifle.org/
Newt Notes: Thanks to Richard and Jackie Kramer, (parents of MA native Zips Sarah Kramer) for all their help planning our visit to their home state. Again, the Zips had more fans at the match than all the other teams combined.