Rifle Results from the Palmyra Match

[Zipsrifle]

Looks like the team is up to it's old tricks. Even though they still aren't at full strength (looks like Sarah Kramer and Shannon Kohatsu didn't make it) they put up some pretty good numbers. What is exciting is that there was another school record broken and some more personal bests. Lets hope this trend continues for the rest of the season. I expect to see the Zips to continue their Big Ten domination over Penn State in 2 weeks. The PSU team isn't a Varsity sport so expect the Zips to be handing out the spanking this time. Then it's on to the NCAA Sectionals in a month. This is where you qualify for the NCAA Championship. We've been so close in years past, I think this is the year.

Date: January 16, 2005

Location: Palmyra Pennsylvania

Event: 6th Annual Palmyra Invitational

Milano Shatters School Rifle Record

Giving up a few precious days of winter vacation, The University of Akron Rifle Team gathered in Akron to brave the cold tempers and travel to Palmyra Pennsylvania to compete in the nations largest indoor rifle tournament. This tournament has grown to the point that the matches must be fired over a three weekend period to accommodate all the competitors. This weekend was the first of the three weekends. The air outside may have been cold, the Zips warmed things up at the 6th annual Palmyra Invitational.

In the smallbore division senior Co-Captain Joe Milano was on fire. Milano fired an 1169 out of a possible 1200 which shatters the old school record of 1164. In breaking the school record Milano posted two perfect 100’s in the prone position and a very impressive 99 on one of his last of 4 standing cards. Teammate junior Angie Engle finished second with a notable 1141 and freshmen Martha Carpenter (1131) and Christine Fortunato (1127), both posted new personal best scores. Worth noting is the prone performance of sophomore Laura Kuntz (1130) who captured the ever allusive 100 with 10 center shots. To do this an athlete must not only hit the center of the target 10 times, but the holes must be exactly in the center of the target earning the designation of “center shotâ€. Shooting a perfect 100 with 10 center shots is very rare and a HUGE accomplishment.

Milano continued to set the pace by leading the team in air rifle with a 382 out of a possible 400. The freshman duo of Stephanie Elmore and Martha Carpenter backed up Milano with identical 378’s. And freshman April Engle sneaked into the top 4 for the first time this season with an new personal best score of 377. “We are blessed with a deep pool of talented athletes to count on but Joe Milano continues to lead the team with nearly a 4.0 gpa as well as regular record breaking athletic performances.†states coach Newt Engle, “Now Joe and the rest of the team will have to get to work to prepare for some upcoming tough teams as well as the all important NCAA qualifier in February.â€

The team results of the Palmyra invitational will be posted in approximately 3 weeks. Before then, the Zips will travel to PA again on the 29th of January to face an up and coming Penn State team.

Smallbore Rifle Scores: *Gold team, ** Blue team

1169* Joe Milano --New School Record--

1141** Angie Engle

1137* Stephanie Elmore

1131* Martha Carpenter --New Personal Best--

1130* Laura Kuntz

1127** Christine Fortunato --New Personal Best--

1114** Tom Colston

1093 April Engle

1069 Ben Soehnlen

1063** Ashley Pawlak

4567 Akron “Gold†Smallbore Team Total

4445 Akron “Blue†Smallbore Team Total

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Air Rifle Individual Scores: *Gold team, ** Blue team

382* Joe Milano

378** Martha Carpenter

378* Stephanie Elmore

377** April Engle --New Personal Best--

375* Angie Engle

370* Christine Fortunato

368** Laura Kuntz

367** Tom Colston

359 Ashley Pawlak

332 Ben Soehnlen

1505 Akron “Gold†Air Rifle Team Total

1490 Akron “Blue†Air Rifle Team Total