University of Memphis Athletics
Memphis Rifle Breaks Records in Weekend Doubleheader
Nov 17, 2020 | Rifle, Women's Rifle
MEMPHIS — The Tigers finished their fall slate of home matches on a record-setting note this weekend as they welcomed the University of Alaska Fairbanks to Memphis for the first time.
Despite dropping both matches to the Nanooks at the R.F. Fogelman Family Rifle Facility, the Tigers set a new team-high air rifle score (2363) as well as a new team aggregate score (4694) during Sunday's match.
The team air rifle score has not been broken since 2016, and the previous team aggregate record (4689) was set during the 2018 fall semester.
The new team aggregate score vaulted the tigers to No. 6 in this week's Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) poll, their highest ranking since the 2018 season.
Multiple individual career-best scores were also set during the weekend's matches. Sophomore Taylor Gibson closed out her stellar fall semester by setting a new career-best smallbore score of 588 as well as tying her career aggregate score of 1183. Her fall semester aggregate average of 1179 is the sixth-highest average in the country going into the winter break.
Memphis rifle's three freshmen were also strong contributors over the weekend, shooting an average 1166 aggregate to help the Tigers to their record-setting team score on Sunday.
Jack Kersey's career-high 585 smallbore score led the team on Sunday, and his 1173 aggregate followed Gibson's 1177. Gibson's 593 airgun score led the Tigers on Sunday, and freshman Taylor Christian posted a career-high 592.
In a season hampered by the COVID-19 virus going all the way back to the cancellation of the NCAA Rifle Championships in March, head coach Dan Hermsmeier is finally seeing positivity and success within the team.
"This fall has been a very tough semester for us for many reasons, and the restrictions, match cancellations, testing and social distancing has been dictating a lot of our thoughts, emotions and motivation over the past few months," said Hermsmeier. "I am very proud of everyone's commitment to overcoming these obstacles over the past few weeks, and their efforts are really starting to show. Working together to navigate these tough times has helped them all grow closer as a team, which is a very positive thing to take from this semester."
The Tigers are off from competition for the next two months until they return to action on January 16th at the Withrow Open in Murray, Ky.
