University of Memphis Athletics
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Tigers Rifle, Olympic Bound
Feb 11, 2020 | Rifle
Graduate assistant coach Ali Weisz earns a spot on Team USA for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo this summer.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A Tiger is Olympic bound in 2020!
Alison (Ali) Weisz, a graduate assistant coach for the University of Memphis rifle team, earned a Team USA spot with her performance at the Olympic Air Rifle Trials Part II last weekend.
Weisz is one of four shooters that will represent the United States in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, in late July-early August. The other three U.S. rifle Olympians are Lucas Kozeniesky, Will Shaner and Mary Tucker.
"I was excited to see Ali close out her final match," said Memphis third-year head coach Dan Hermsmeier. "Over the past few months, she's been working really hard here. It's great for her and our program that she's qualified for the Olympics. We're excited to follow her story over the next few months as the Summer Games get closer.
"Ali's been a huge asset to this year's team, imparting her knowledge that she's gained from matches she's been to over the years. I knew coming in that she would have a lot to offer. It's been great watching her help our student-athletes."
Last weekend (Feb. 7-9) was the second of two qualifiers, both of which included two matches and a final. The first competition was held in December.
Weisz, a Belgrade, Mont., native, entered the second qualifying weekend in second place after shooting a 1254.0 in the two December matches and a 184.0 in the final. In last weekend's second qualifier, Weisz shot a 1250.2 in the two matches and a 164.4 in the final.
Her two qualifiers total was 2507.7, good enough to remain in second place and earn one of the two Olympic spots for Team USA. Tucker placed first with a 2513.0 score.
"The biggest thing I was working on this weekend was shooting my match and not worrying about others, just focusing on what I can control," said Weisz. "There's a lot of great athletes here, and it could have been any one of us. I'm going to go back to my team at home and take it one step at a time, dig in and train hard."
The Team USA Olympic qualifiers will continue to train at NCAA competitions, International World Cup Events and at their home shooting clubs. Kozeniesky, Shaner, Tucker and Weisz will reunite at the Olympic Test Event in Tokyo Apr. 15-27.
Weisz is the University of Memphis' second tie to the Olympics in the last two Summer Games (2016, 2020). In 2016, former Tigers track and field All-American Pauls Pujats represented Latvia in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Pujats competed in the men's pole vault.
Alison (Ali) Weisz, a graduate assistant coach for the University of Memphis rifle team, earned a Team USA spot with her performance at the Olympic Air Rifle Trials Part II last weekend.
Weisz is one of four shooters that will represent the United States in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, in late July-early August. The other three U.S. rifle Olympians are Lucas Kozeniesky, Will Shaner and Mary Tucker.
"I was excited to see Ali close out her final match," said Memphis third-year head coach Dan Hermsmeier. "Over the past few months, she's been working really hard here. It's great for her and our program that she's qualified for the Olympics. We're excited to follow her story over the next few months as the Summer Games get closer.
"Ali's been a huge asset to this year's team, imparting her knowledge that she's gained from matches she's been to over the years. I knew coming in that she would have a lot to offer. It's been great watching her help our student-athletes."
Last weekend (Feb. 7-9) was the second of two qualifiers, both of which included two matches and a final. The first competition was held in December.
Weisz, a Belgrade, Mont., native, entered the second qualifying weekend in second place after shooting a 1254.0 in the two December matches and a 184.0 in the final. In last weekend's second qualifier, Weisz shot a 1250.2 in the two matches and a 164.4 in the final.
Her two qualifiers total was 2507.7, good enough to remain in second place and earn one of the two Olympic spots for Team USA. Tucker placed first with a 2513.0 score.
"The biggest thing I was working on this weekend was shooting my match and not worrying about others, just focusing on what I can control," said Weisz. "There's a lot of great athletes here, and it could have been any one of us. I'm going to go back to my team at home and take it one step at a time, dig in and train hard."
The Team USA Olympic qualifiers will continue to train at NCAA competitions, International World Cup Events and at their home shooting clubs. Kozeniesky, Shaner, Tucker and Weisz will reunite at the Olympic Test Event in Tokyo Apr. 15-27.
Weisz is the University of Memphis' second tie to the Olympics in the last two Summer Games (2016, 2020). In 2016, former Tigers track and field All-American Pauls Pujats represented Latvia in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Pujats competed in the men's pole vault.
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