Rifle Preview: Withrow Invitational

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It's been a long break for the University of Memphis rifle team. Try 61 days off from competition with the Tigers' last action coming at the Nov. 24 Gamecock Invitational in Jacksonville, Ala.

Well, the break comes to an end Saturday, Jan. 25 when No. 9 nationally-ranked Memphis travels to Murray, Ky., for the annual Withrow Invitational. In addition to No. 10 Murray State, other programs shooting in this weekend's event are: No. 3 Kentucky, No. 14 NC State, No. 17 UT Martin, No. 16 Jacksonville State, No. 18 North Georgia and UAB.

When the campaign took time off back in November, the Tigers were coming off impressive back-to-back weekends at TCU and Jacksonville State. Memphis shot its two highest aggregates scores in Fort Worth, Texas (4669), and Jacksonville, Ala. (4679).

With those two performances, Memphis climbed to as high as No. 5 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) poll. Since other teams returned to action earlier this month, the Tigers slid a little in the poll, but remain in the top-10 at No. 9.

Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Poll

Rank	Team	Rank	Team
1.	TCU	11.	Alaska-Fairbanks
2.	West Virginia	t.	Army
3.	Kentucky	13.	Ohio State
4.	Akron	14.	NC State
5.	Air Force	15.	Morehead State
6.	Ole Miss	16.	Jacksonville State
7.	Navy	17.	UT Martin
8.	Nebraska	18.	North Georgia
9.	*Memphis*	19.	UTEP
10.	Murray State	20.	Coast Guard

Head coach Dan Hermsmeier comments
(On the break)
"Everyone had a good, relaxing break. They made sure they got in a little bit of training and physical work. We're all ready to go."

(On the strong end of the fall portion of the schedule)
"We finished the fall season as good as we could have hoped. We had some strong showings at Jacksonville State and TCU. We now have some more opportunities to put up some good scores."

(On historically shooting well at Murray State)
"It's really not about the teams we're shooting against. It's really about the environment and how it affects our shooting. We shoot really well at Jacksonville State, and also at Murray State. Both have been our "homes-away-from-home.'"

Tigers Tidbits

This weekend's trip to Murray, Ky., is the first of two for the Tigers in the next month. Memphis also shoots in the NCAA Sectional Qualifier at Murray State Feb. 23.
Memphis stays on the road for nearly the entire spring portion of its schedule with the exception of hosting the Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Championships in late February. After this weekend at Murray State, the Tigers travel to Lexington, Ky., Feb. 1-2 (Kentucky/Akron); Oxford, Miss., Feb. 15 (Ole Miss); and Murray, Ky., Feb. 23 (NCAA Sectional Qualifier).
In the last outing at the Nov. 24, 2019, Gamecock Invitational, Taylor Gibson posted a career-high 1177 aggregate and Levi Clark shot a season-best 1176 aggregate.
Memphis is shooting the eighth-best aggregate average (4659.375) nationally. The Tigers are shooting the sixth-best smallbore average (2312.825) in the nation.
Three Tigers hold aggregate averages of 1160 or better, and they are Levi Clark (1168.625), Matt Dorey (1162.250) and Taylor Gibson (1161.000). Clark's aggregate average is No. 22 in the nation.
In Memphis' last trip to Murray State for the 2019 NCAA Sectional Qualifier, Levi Clark posted a career-high 588 score in smallbore.

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Players Mentioned

Taylor Gibson

University of Memphis Athletics