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WVU Rifle Opens GARC Season At West Point |
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Written by Wendall Stevens
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Saturday, 18 October 2008 |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Oct. 17, 2008) - Hoping to build on its perfect opening weekend, the West Virginia University rifle team travels to West Point, N.Y., and opens its GARC season at Army on Oct. 18 at 9 a.m., and against Ole Miss on Oct. 19 at 8 a.m.
The matches are the first two road competitions for the Mountaineers (2-0 overall, 0-0 GARC) this season. The squad opened the season Oct. 4-5 with wins over Ohio State (4629-4535) and Morehead State (4647-4541).
“It’s nice to get our first conference matches underway,” Head Coach Jon Hammond says. “I’ve said to others, we still just have to treat each match one at a time. We have to ultimately focus on ourselves, get good scores and the results will come.”
The Black Knights narrowly defeated the Mountaineers last season, 4675-4600. WVU has lost its last four matches against Army, but holds a 28-10 series advantage.
“Army, as a team, has had our number the last couple of years,” Hammond says. “It will be nice to go up there and compete for revenge.”
WVU stopped a three-match losing skid to Ole Miss last season, defeating the Rebels 4614-4551. The series is tied 3-3.
The Mountaineers were picked second in the 2008-09 GARC Preseason Coaches Poll. The squad took third at last year’s championship, its highest finish since the 2002 season.
WVU was also slotted second in the 2008-09 Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Preseason Poll, trailing only Alaska-Fairbanks.
The Mountaineers return to the WVU Rifle Range next Saturday, Oct. 25, when they play host to TCU at 8 a.m. It is the first meeting between the schools in two years. WVU holds a 2-0 series advantage. Fans are encouraged to attend throughout the day, as the match will play into the afternoon.
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West Virginia 