Bryant Wallizer

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University rifle team began defense of its 14th NCAA championship with a solid season-opening win over Air Force, defeating the Falcons, 4655-4587, today in Lincoln, Neb.

The Mountaineers (1-0) won in convincing fashion, trumping Air Force in smallbore, 2305-2301, and air rifle, 2350-2286.

Redshirt senior Bryant Wallizer paced WVU today, finishing first overall with a score of 1167, and winning air rifle with a score of 590. Junior Andy Lamson tied the Falcons’ Tom Chandler for second place with a score of 1163. Lamson’s classmate, Tommy Santelli, finished third with a score of 1162.

“The first match of the season is always a bit slow, but I’m pleased with the team’s scores and the consistency among the squad,” fourth-year coach Jon Hammond says. “Overall, we had a satisfying day, but we do have a list of things to improve on tomorrow.”

Wallizer’s winning air rifle score was composed of two strings of 99, and four strings of 98. The Little Orleans, Md., native also showed his growth in smallbore with a strong 577 score, only two short of his personal-best mark of 579 and good enough for fifth place.

WVU secured the top five air rifle finishes, with sophomore Michael Kulbacki placing second behind Wallizer with a score of 589. Santelli finished third (587), and Lamson and sophomore Justin Pentz tied for fourth (584).

Lamson nabbed the highest Mountaineer smallbore finish, as the Colchester, Vt., native shot 579 and finished second to Chandler (582). Kulbacki tied the Falcons’ Nick Krieger for third (578). Though Kulbacki's smallbore score did not count towards the team score, he did match Wallizer's overall first place showing of 1167.

Junior Kyle Smith shot the lone WVU school record of the day with a 200 prone score. The Dubois, Pa., native previously attained the mark last season.

The Mountaineers have yet to lose to Air Force in their 16-match series, and the win is the team’s first since 1974.

With the win, WVU pushes its streak of season-opening victories to four. Today’s score is a program-best for season-openers; the Mountaineers shot 4629 in last year’s win over Ohio State.

The Mountaineers continue their two-match stand in Lincoln tomorrow with a meeting against host Nebraska at 9 a.m. ET. WVU defeated its Great American Rifle Conference foe 4650-4622 last season in Morgantown.