Rifle No. 10 In Final National Poll

MURRAY, Ky. – The University of Memphis rifle team finished its 2019-20 campaign ranked in the top-10 of the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) poll. The Tigers were No. 10 in the final rankings.

It is the Tigers' highest final ranking in head coach Dan Hermsmeier's three seasons, and the program's highest since Memphis was No. 9 in the 2015-16 final poll. Memphis' best ranking in school history was No. 4 in 2013-14 when the Tigers – then led by Hermsmeier, a senior on that squad – placed fourth at the NCAA Championships.

In Hermsmeier's coaching tenure, Memphis has made a steady push up in the final national rankings. Memphis finished No. 13 in Hermsmeier's first season in 2017-18, followed by a No. 12 ranking in his second year at the helm in 2018-19.

In the 2019-20 campaign, the Tigers spent nine weeks in the top-10 of the CRCA poll and jumped to as high as No. 5 in the Nov. 25, 2019, poll. Memphis was ranked No. 13 in the CRCA preseason poll.

Memphis wrapped up the regular season 20 points shy of qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a team. The nation's top eight teams advanced to the NCAA Championships, and teams qualified for the national match by their top three scores shot at three different sites in addition to their sectional qualifier scores.

The Tigers had a 9331 score, which combined their team results at Jacksonville State's Gamecock Invitational (4679), at Murray State's Withrow Invitational (4677) and at TCU (4669) with their 4656 result at its NCAA Sectional Qualifier. Memphis' 9331 placed just behind Army West Point in ninth (9332.67) and Air Force (9351), which grabbed the final NCAA Championships spot, in eighth.

The 2019-20 NCAA rifle season was cut short by the pandemic in early March. The NCAA Championships were scheduled for Lexington, Ky., Mar. 13-14. Freshman Taylor Gibson had qualified to shoot in the smallbore at the national championships match.

48401

Related News

Players Mentioned

Taylor Gibson

Related Videos