University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Rifle Announces 2018-19 Schedule
Aug 20, 2018 | Rifle
Tigers face four of eight teams that competed in last year's NCAA Championships.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis rifle squad faces four of the eight teams that competed in last year's NCAA Championships on its 2018-19 schedule, head coach Dan Hermsmeier announced Monday. The Tigers host defending NCAA champion Kentucky and Nebraska and travel to West Virginia and Murray State.
"I'm excited about our schedule this season," said Hermsmeier, the Tigers second-year head coach and former All-American. "We have a good mix of strong matches home and away against some of the nation's top programs.
"Our challenging road trip to Army West Point and West Virginia early in the fall will make sure we are hard at work from Day One of practice. We also have a huge home match against last year's NCAA champion Kentucky which will be a great test for us later in the fall."
The Tigers have nine home dates this season and all home matches are held at the Memphis Rifle Facility located on the University's campus. Memphis opens the 2018 portion of its schedule with the annual Tiger Open Sept. 22-23 and Sept. 29-30. The Tigers also have home dual-match dates versus Navy Oct. 20, NC State Oct. 27 and NCAA champion Kentucky Oct. 28.
Memphis' final two home matches come in the second half of the season after the Christmas/New Year's holiday break. The Tigers host Nebraska Feb. 3 and wrap up their home schedule against Ole Miss Feb. 9.
The Tigers' road trips start with a big weekend jaunt to Army West Point and West Virginia in mid-October. Memphis faces the Cadets in West Point, N.Y., Oct. 13 and the Mountaineers in Morgantown, W.Va., Oct. 14. Hermsmeier served as a graduate assistant on the Mountaineers staff from 2015-17 and helped coach West Virginia to NCAA titles both seasons. The trip to Morgantown is Hermsmeier's first since taking over the Memphis program.
Memphis has one other road trip in the fall to Jacksonville, Ala., for the Gamecock Invitational. The Tigers' two spring semester trips are to Lexington, Ky., for a neutral-site match against Akron Jan. 20 and to Murray, Ky., for the annual Withrow Invitational Jan. 26.
The 2019 postseason begins Feb. 16 with the NCAA Sectional Qualifier in Murray, Ky. The Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Championships are set for Feb. 23-24 in Akron, Ohio, with the NCAA Championships to follow Mar. 8-9 in Morgantown, W.Va.
The Tigers return two NCAA Championships qualifiers in senior Leighton Dempster and junior Levi Clark for the 2018-19 campaign. Dempster competed in air rifle and Clark placed sixth in smallbore at last year's NCAA Championships. Other returnees include junior Amberlie Ezell and sophomores Matt Dorey and Adriana Hickerson.
"I'm eager to begin my second year as head coach," Hermsmeier said. "We ended last year on a successful note with both Leighton and Levi shooting at the NCAA Championships.
"We are looking to begin this season in a strong fashion. We have a great group of freshmen that will bring enthusiasm and effort to the team. In addition, our upperclassmen are ready to hit the ground running and help the team meet our goals this year."
"I'm excited about our schedule this season," said Hermsmeier, the Tigers second-year head coach and former All-American. "We have a good mix of strong matches home and away against some of the nation's top programs.
"Our challenging road trip to Army West Point and West Virginia early in the fall will make sure we are hard at work from Day One of practice. We also have a huge home match against last year's NCAA champion Kentucky which will be a great test for us later in the fall."
The Tigers have nine home dates this season and all home matches are held at the Memphis Rifle Facility located on the University's campus. Memphis opens the 2018 portion of its schedule with the annual Tiger Open Sept. 22-23 and Sept. 29-30. The Tigers also have home dual-match dates versus Navy Oct. 20, NC State Oct. 27 and NCAA champion Kentucky Oct. 28.
Memphis' final two home matches come in the second half of the season after the Christmas/New Year's holiday break. The Tigers host Nebraska Feb. 3 and wrap up their home schedule against Ole Miss Feb. 9.
The Tigers' road trips start with a big weekend jaunt to Army West Point and West Virginia in mid-October. Memphis faces the Cadets in West Point, N.Y., Oct. 13 and the Mountaineers in Morgantown, W.Va., Oct. 14. Hermsmeier served as a graduate assistant on the Mountaineers staff from 2015-17 and helped coach West Virginia to NCAA titles both seasons. The trip to Morgantown is Hermsmeier's first since taking over the Memphis program.
Memphis has one other road trip in the fall to Jacksonville, Ala., for the Gamecock Invitational. The Tigers' two spring semester trips are to Lexington, Ky., for a neutral-site match against Akron Jan. 20 and to Murray, Ky., for the annual Withrow Invitational Jan. 26.
The 2019 postseason begins Feb. 16 with the NCAA Sectional Qualifier in Murray, Ky. The Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Championships are set for Feb. 23-24 in Akron, Ohio, with the NCAA Championships to follow Mar. 8-9 in Morgantown, W.Va.
The Tigers return two NCAA Championships qualifiers in senior Leighton Dempster and junior Levi Clark for the 2018-19 campaign. Dempster competed in air rifle and Clark placed sixth in smallbore at last year's NCAA Championships. Other returnees include junior Amberlie Ezell and sophomores Matt Dorey and Adriana Hickerson.
"I'm eager to begin my second year as head coach," Hermsmeier said. "We ended last year on a successful note with both Leighton and Levi shooting at the NCAA Championships.
"We are looking to begin this season in a strong fashion. We have a great group of freshmen that will bring enthusiasm and effort to the team. In addition, our upperclassmen are ready to hit the ground running and help the team meet our goals this year."
Players Mentioned
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Rifle Edition - October 25, 2023
Wednesday, October 25
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Rifle Edition - October 18, 2023
Wednesday, October 18
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Rifle 11/2/22
Wednesday, November 02
Rifle: Taylor Gibson Comes Back Stronger 3/11/21
Thursday, March 11