Zips Rifle at Palymra Invitational

[Zipsrifle]

Well, the team started off the new year a little slow. Navy is one of the top teams in the country, but it looks like they were a bit off too, so it was a prime opportunity for the Zips to pull off a huge upset. Granted, they would have needed their best score of the season, but getting a 4615 was not out of reach for this team. I hope once they get back in the groove, the scores will steadily increase to the sectional. I'm glad to see some more personal bests and new team records. Rifle is a very mental sport and setting a new personal high score or team record is very important. Not only does it prove to you that you are capable of shooting that score the next time, it increases competition on the team, especially when underclassmen step up. Once you believe you can achieve a score, you will usually approach that score every time. So in one word....BELIEVE! On another note, I have to say that it is extremely rare for a College Rifle team to have a following, but the Zips have just that. Obviously I am one of them, but I rarely make it to a match. I am especially excited to see an Alumni team started! I know OSU does this, and I have always thought about putting together an Akron Alumni team, but most of the people from my time are spread throughout the country (from Washington D.C. to Michigan to Hawaii). Kudos to those who pulled it together. Anyway, below is a link to Gozips.com and the press release. Click Me!PRESS RELEASEDate: January 15, 2006Location: Palmyra Sportsman’s Association in Palymra PAEvent: Akron -vs- Navy, at the 7th Annual Palymra Invitational Navy Midshipmen Edge Ahead of Akron Rifle The winter break ended early for the men and women of the Zips rifle team as they traveled to Palmyra Pennsylvania to open the second half of the rifle season. This match served the dual purpose of being a shoulder to shoulder match with the US Naval Academy as well as the 7th annual Palmyra Invitational Rifle tournament. Navy’s smallbore scores slacked a little allowing opening the door for Akron but the Zips did not take advantage of the opportunity and Navy (4614) edged ahead of Akron (4557). “Coming back after 5 weeks of little to no shooting is always a challenge,†stated Coach Engle, “But now we are back in the saddle and the sky is the limit.†Since the Palmyra Invitational is the largest indoor rifle match in the USA, this was the first of three weekends of competition. Thus, the final ranking for Akron will not be known till the end of January. Results will be posted as they are made available. Navy was not the only team slacking a little in smallbore as no one from the Zips broke into the 580’s, but there was still some exciting moments. Melissa Lussier lead the charge with an impressive 574 out of a possible 600. Zips newcomer Cody Shields fired a new personal best at 564. In this sport, the athletes shoot cards of targets containing 10 record shots. A perfect card has 10 shots in the middle but to break ties, the dead center shots are scored as “center shots.†Thus, the pinnacle of performance is the elusive 100 with 10 center shots. Congrats to Laura Kuntz who came close with a 100-7. And the father of Zips hot shot Julie DeBrita, (John DeBrita) showed what he was made of as he posted an impressive 100-8. But all bow to the champion of the prone match, Zips freshman Adam Hyde who managed to capture the perfect 100-10. Smiling from ear to ear, Hyde told coach Engle, “Hey coach, my prone was absolutely AWSOME!, I think I did it!†And if that was not enough, every rifle athlete knows the further from the ground the rifle is, the harder it is to hold steady. So setting records in the standing position is quite difficult. This did not daunt Akron freshman Michael Tokarz who set a new school record for 20 shots standing by firing an amazing 193 out of a possible 200. This breaks the record of 192 set last fall by teammate Julie DeBrita. The fun did not stop with smallbore. In the air rifle division, freshman Melissa Lussier continued her team leading trend by posting a 583 out of a possible 600. This put Melissa just a few points behind Navy’s match winning Sarah Bergman (389). Lussier was supported by two teammates who earned new personal best scores at this match. Both freshman Michael Tokarz (376) and sophomore April Engle (374) lit up the score boards with new personal best performances. “I am pleased to see April and Michael rewarded for all their hard work.†states coach Engle, “Setting personal best scores at a match of this caliber is no accident, they earned this.†As mentioned above, this tournament is an open tournament allowing anyone to compete. So hats off to John DeBrita who drove in from New York to shoot with daughter Julie. Not only that, but several former Zips gathered together and formed an alumni team. Former Zips team members Sarah Kramer (Massachusetts), Martha Carpenter (Vermont), Tom Colston, (Ohio) and Angie Engle (Ohio) came to Palmyra and proved they still have what it takes to compete as elite athletes. The score for their team of 4513 was only one slim point behind the Akron Blue team. This should be a pretty competitive team score in the open class. We will find out in about three weeks. Most importantly, old friendships were rekindled and new bonds formed. With all the current Zips present, as well as the alumni team, friends and families, the Palmyra range looked like a sea of blue and gold. With a short week to get ready, Akron Rifle will face yet another big test as they host a three way match with the ever powerful West Virginia University Mountaineers and the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs. “Both of these teams have a winning history as they come to Akronâ€, states coach Engle, “We will definitely have to be at our best, and I know we will be.†The matches will start at 9 am in the marksmanship training facility located in Schrank Hall South room #7. NewtNotes:We had parents and friends from all over the east coast come to cheer for the Zips at this match. I was very impressed especially because most of them had to drive for hours over some pretty bad roads due to the east coast snow storm. The Reinkings actually drove all the way from Indiana! What dedication to the Zips! Our own Stephanie Elmore celebrated her birthday at this match and the Lussier family went out of their way to bring in a wonderful cake to celebrate the occasion. Wow! Finally (but not least) I was thrilled to see our alumni (and shooting parent) take the time from their busy schedules to come and shoot with the team. What a great example each of you are for our athletes! We had a great time…Smallbore Rifle Scores: *Gold team, ** Blue team574* -- Melissa Lussier 571** -- Laura Kuntz 570** -- Michael Tokarz -- New School Record 193 Standing! 569* -- Julie DeBrita 568* -- Stephanie Elmore 568* -- Megan Reinking 564 -- Cody Shields -- New Personal Best 562** -- Christine Fortunato 559 -- Adam Hyde -- New Personal Best and a Perfect 100 prone with 10 centers!556** -- April Engle 550 -- Ben Soehnlen2279 Akron “Gold†Smallbore Team Total 2259 Akron “Blue†Smallbore Team Total==============================================================Air Rifle Individual Scores: *Gold team, ** Blue team583* -- Melissa Lussier 576* -- Michael Tokarz -- New Personal Best 574** -- April Engle - New Personal Best 569** -- Stephanie Elmore 565** -- Christine Fortunato 560* -- Julie DeBrita 559* -- Megan Reinking 555 -- Cody Shields 547** -- Laura Kuntz 520 -- Ben Soehnlen 510 -- Adam Hyde 2278 Akron “Gold†Air Rifle Team Total 2255 Akron “Blue†Air Rifle Team Total=====================================================================================================