Akron Zips Rifle Club Win WIRC Championship

by
posted on March 1, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
zips1.jpg

For the last four months, the Akron Zips Rifle Club has been competing in home matches and sending in scores to be ranked against other colleges in the Western Intercollegiate Rifle Conference (WIRC). In February, all conference participants headed to Purdue University for the WIRC Championship. Scores were tallied from not only from the championship match, but also from the previous four postal matches and compiled at one awards banquet. Last year, the Zips were successful in taking home a very large trophy. They repeated the feat this year.

Saturday started early with brushing snow off the vehicles and cold bores on the range. However, once the Zips started warming up, there was no stopping them. Luke Massie led the team in smallbore with an impressive score of 558. Hot on his heals was freshman Liz Bark scoring a new personal best of 556. Both scores landed Massie and Bark as second and third place individuals for the match. Chris Thomas fired a near-season high of 548, awarding him the fifth most improved smallbore individual in the conference. Additionally, Gabby Pitre fired a new personal high score of 540—after only one week of practice with her new gun!

Once all shots were fired, the combined score of 2202 was enough for the Zips to win the smallbore WIRC Championship. When this score was combined with all previous team postal scores, the Zips secured the win for overall regular season team champion.

The Zips were determined not to be distracted when it came to air rifle. Leading was sophomore Brandon Meier, who shattered his previous best with a 576—winning individual match champion. Another record-breaking personal best performance came from Nick Haas who crushed his old personal best by firing a 553, landing him as the third most improved air rifle conference competitor. Duplicating their smallbore performance, the Zips dominated the air rifle event by winning gold in both the championship match and overall regular season with postal scores.

The Zips will next compete at the 2017 NRA Intercollegiate Rifle Club Championship at Fort Benning, GA, on March 17-19.

Latest

CMP Buynow 1
CMP Buynow 1

CMP Streamlines Legacy M1 Garand Sales With Easy ‘Buy Now’ Feature

CMP’s new fixed-price “Buy Now” system makes it easier than ever to own a legacy, non-reclaimed M1 Garand rifle.

Watchtower Firearms, Demolition Ranch Team Up For Limited-Edition DEMOLITIA Blackout 1911

Watchtower Firearms releases limited-edition double-stack 1911 chambered in 9 mm designed with input from Demolition Ranch.

Federal Ammunition Honored With National 4-H Shooting Sports Pioneer Award

Federal Ammunition receives 2025 4-H Shooting Sports Pioneer Award for over 40 years of support for youth programs.

New: Smith & Wesson M&P 15 AXE Rifles

Smith & Wesson launches the M&P 15 AXE lineup of suppressor-ready rifles with reduced gas blowback and modern features.

Review: Savage Arms Mark II & Winchester’s .21 Sharp

As demonstrated in the Savage Mark II FV-SR, Winchester’s .21 Sharp cartridge offers higher velocity and greater precision than .22 Long Rifle rounds.

Marsh Edges Stine In Canadian Showdown To Win Lapua Monarch Cup Opener

Justin Marsh edges Jake Stine by one point to win the Canadian NRA Smallbore Silhouette Nationals and first stage of the 2025 Lapua Monarch Cup.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.