Rifle Team wins MAC Championship

[Zipsrifle]

Here is the press release of the Teams success this weekend at the USCGA. Congrats to the team and I will be one of the persons tuning in on-line next weekend to watch the Sarah Benjamin at the NCAA Championship Match! Good Luck!PRESS RELEASE----------------------------------------------------------------The University of Akron Varsity Rifle TeamDate: March 6, 2010Event: Mid Atlantic Rifle Conference ChampionshipsLocation: US Coast Guard Academy, New London, CTAkron Rifle Wins MAC Championship!Stein and Benjamin are Top Guns at ChampionshipAkron 2282, Navy 2271For many years The University of Akron rifle team has been a member of the Mid Atlantic RifleConference (MAC), the largest rifle conference in the US. Teams are placed in categoriesbased on their match averages ranging from Master, through Expert, Sharpshooter andMarksman. The Zips have been in the master class for many years going head to head withthe perennial powerhouse, Navy. For what seems like an eternity, the Zips have finished #2in the MAC behind Navy. However for the past couple of years Akron has been narrowing thegap. The hard work and extra efforts put forth by this year’s Akron team have finally paid offas the 14th ranked Akron Zips have ended the rein of the #6 ranked Navy by claiming the 2010MAC smallbore rifle title. The Zips smallbore team score of 2282 not only won thechampionship, but also shattered the school record of 2279 set way back in 2006. “When thescores posted and Navy coach Bill Kelley congratulated me, I must admit I stood there inawe,” states head coach Newt Engle, “Navy has been putting up some big numbers allseason, but so have we. Today is the day we have been working towards for quite sometime.”Leading the Zips to victory, sophomore Ryan Stein led the chargein smallbore rifle with an impressive 577 out of 600. Stein’s scorenot only helped win the title, but earned him the top gun award inthe smallbore championship. Sophomore teammates Zac Szaboand Sarah Benjamin fired like 570’s with junior Brittany Jonesrounding out the top 4 for Akron with her 565. “For the wholeseason we have been trying to get our smallbore under controland of all the places to do it, none better than the last match of the year at the MACchampionships,” states Engle.A MAC air rifle title was not in the cards for Akron this year with Navy pulling ahead of Akron2313 to 2282, but Akron still earned high honors. Zips hotshot sophomore Sarah Benjamin litup the board winning top gun at the championships by posting her 584. Teammates BrittanyJones (571), Ryan Stein (566) and Beca Gerevics (561) rounded out the Akron squad withalternate Luke Nelson (574) posting a new career best score.This match is a good warm up for Benjamin who only days beforethe MAC championship was selected to represent Akron at the 2010NCAA Championships held at Texas Christian University. This willbe the second year in a row Akron has earned an invitation to theNCAA’s. Benjamin feels she is tuned up and ready to prove shehas what it takes to be a collegiate champion. Coach Engle states,“We have been red hot with the air rifle’s for quite a while andcooled off a little today. However, Sarah in great condition anddefinitely ready to take on the challenge she will face next week inTexas.”This will conclude the regular season for the Zips but all eyes will be on Benjamin as shetravels to Texas next week to do what it takes at the NCAA’s. An internet web address isbeing developed which will make it possible for dedicated fans to log on and watch the NCAAchampionship live on the web starting at 9am Saturday the 13th of March. Sarah is scheduledon the 9am relay, firing on point 19, with the air rifle finals at 2pm. The finals are the top 8competitors brought together for 10 final shots in front of an arena full of cheering spectators.No pressure there for an experienced athlete like Benjamin who had done finals before andthrives on the excitement. The web address for this event will be sent to you as soon as it isavailable.A computer glitch with the new electronic targets at the academy has not allowed a release ofall the scores yet. Complete results will be sent in a separate message as they are madeavailable.NEWTNOTE:And that is right, this is a big one. The regularseason is over, but we are not quite done yet.However, I must start saying thanks now so Idon’t forget anyone. First and foremost ourparents and friends. You truly (and I meanthis) make us the envy of the conference. Atevery match the team is supported by yourpresence and generous contributions of foodand snacks. We can never express how muchyou have done to make this season such asuccess. And the team. You all are the best! Ihave never been so proud of how well a teamhas represented Akron. Not only scores, butsportsmanship and networking with the otherteams. You should hear the enviouscomments I get from the other coaches.You’re destined for greatness! Thanks fortaking me for the ride. Now let’s all get readyfor the Sara Benjamin show.

[zippyrifle32]

Hey Zipsrifle, I got some clarification on the NCAA situation. Sarah is an "alternate selection" meaning that she would only get to compete if someone gets sick or something and there is a lane open. She did not outright qualify, but will be going down there in the event something happens to another competitor. Speaking to another NCAA coach, an alternate actually being able to compete is rare, but does happen... and that missing gozips announcement has reappeared on the rifle page.

[zippyrifle32]

You know, I was rereading this and Newt (the coach) is really misleading in his press releases. First, Akron didn't win the MAC Championship title, they won the smallbore title only. There are two parts to the league title which includes air and smallbore. Navy beat Akron by enough in air to win the overall title too. Akron still finished #2. It would be like saying the swim team won the MAC because they took first in one relay, ignoring taking dead last in all other events. I always thought that rifle athletes had a duty to properly explain and represent their sport because it is so unknown to the general population. Reading this press release only plays on public ignorance to make the team look better than it is. Setting a school record is an accomplishment, but to play it off as coming first in league disgusts me. He also did the same thing with the WIRC, which they took first in air, but second overall to Ohio State.

The Akron Rifle team has earned its sixth consecutive Western Intercollegiate Rifle Conference Championship, edging favorite Ohio State and Morehead State to earn the title.

FALSEair title only, not the whole championship

Akron Rifle Wins MAC Championship!

Akron Rifle Sinks Navy to Capture MAC Championship

FALSEThe Navy rifle team rallied from an 11-point smallbore deficit to defeat Akron in the Mid-Atlantic Rifle Conference Championship, 4584 - 4564, on Saturday afternoon. The win improves Navy's record to 8-1 overall, heading into next weekend's NCAA Championship. Even in a regular season match (not league championship) these matches would go down as losses because single gun scores are only half the match. That's right riflebusdriver, I'm calling you out on this garbage.

[Zipmeister]

Something is definitely rotten in the State of Denmark. I think the whole thing may have been a fix. And I quote - "A computer glitch with the new electronic targets at the academy has not allowed a release of all the scores yet. Complete results will be sent in a separate message as they are made available." Sounds like Akron may have had some assistance from our crack computer science team. And what's with the MARC infringing on a MAC copyright. Do they think lawyers get paid from money growing on trees? Maybe the air riflers should try nitrogen. Anyhow congratulations to the Akron shooters for not injuring anyone on this outing.