Rifle: No. 2 WVU Sits in Eighth at NCAAs

By Shannon McNamara for WVUsports.com
March 09, 2012 06:32 PM

Petra Zublasing

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 2-ranked West Virginia University rifle team shot 2297 smallbore today and sits in eighth place through the first day of the 2012 NCAA Championships, held at Ohio State University’s Converse Hall and French Field House, in Columbus, Ohio.

The Mountaineers (12-2, 5-1 GARC) are 31 shots out of first place, held by defending champions Kentucky with a score of 2328. Army sits in second place with a 2325 score, while TCU, the 2010 national champions, are third with a 2323 mark.

“That is the nature of this sport – some days just aren’t your day,” says Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond. “Everyone had a bad day. It wasn’t anything crazy. Unfortunately, you don’t want your worst day of the season to be at the NCAA Championships.

“Despite our predicament, I’m proud of the way everyone managed themselves today. No one lost their temper, and everyone continued to compete hard.”

Junior All-American Petra Zublasing shot a team-best 586 (196 prone, 197 standing, 193 kneeling) relay score and finished sixth overall with a 686.7 mark. The Appiano, Italy, native entered the discipline finals tied with Army’s Kelly Buck. The duo also shot 100.7 in the finals, the third-best total in the eight-shooter field. Zublasing lost the tie-breaking shoot-off, 10.9-10.5.

“Petra shot well today, but I know she was disappointed in the ending,” Hammond says. “She had a chance for a really great score but had a rough 10 shots kneeling. She is arguably one of the best shooters in the NCAA, and I know she will bounce back tomorrow.”

TCU’s Sarah Scherer won the smallbore title with a 688.6 (589, 99.6) final score.

Senior Justin Pentz (570) and freshmen Taylor Ciotola (572) and Thomas Kyanko (569) combined for the squad’s smallbore tally. Senior Michael Kulbacki also shot today and finished with a 565 mark.

Today’s smallbore score is three shots better than the team’s season low of 2294, shot in a loss to UK on Feb. 3.

The championships conclude tomorrow with the air rifle relays and final. Competition is set to begin at 8 a.m. Ciotola, Kulbacki and Pentz are slated to shoot in the first relay.
“I know this team will come out tomorrow motivated to shoot well,” says Hammond. “It is a new day. No one will be concerned with where we place. We’re realistic. I am expecting them all to put today behind them and shoot their best air rifle.”

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