College Rifle: WVU No. 1 Again, Air Force Reaches No. 2

The West Virginia University (WVU) rifle team moves up to No. 1 in the latest College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Rankings, with the U.S. Air Force Academy rifle team leaping to No. 2 after their bye week.

WVU’s Morgan Phillips. Photo courtesy WVU Athletic Communications

The undefeated WVU team triumphed over Texas Christian University (TCU) 4703-4678 on November 10 at Fort Worth—ending the Horned Frogs 12-match win streak. TCU was able to outscore WVU in air rifle 2366-2368, but lost out in smallbore rifle 2337-2310. WVU junior Morgan Phillips had a season-high smallbore rifle score of 591, and TCU’s Casey Lutz led the air rifle scores with 597. For their next match, WVU will face No. 15 NC State in Morgantown on November 17.

Air Force rifle team shooters Spencer Cap, Nick Learn and Anna Weilbacher. Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force Academy

Previously tied with defending NCAA rifle champion Kentucky at No. 4, Air Force jumped to No. 2 from the No. 4 spot in the latest rankings. Air Force last faced VMI on November 4, winning the match 4694-4336. The Air Force rifle team won both in air rifle 2360-2276, and in smallbore 2334-2226. With a 9-1 record in the bye week, the Falcons will next face conference opponent No. 18 UTEP in El Paso, TX, on November 17.

The undefeated University of Alaska-Fairbanks rifle team follows Air Force at No. 3. The Nanooks ranked score of 4693 places them a single point behind the Falcons, with that score garnered from the team’s last match on October 25 against Jacksonville State 4693-4609. Alaska-Fairbanks will go on the road beginning November 15, with a tough schedule against three ranked opponents (No. 18 UTEP, No. 6 TCU and No. 15 Nevada) with each match taking place in a different location.

Rounding out the rest of the CRCA top 10, Kentucky comes in at No. 4 (4691) and Murray State is No. 5 (4682). TCU drops to No. 6 (4678), followed by Memphis at No. 7 (4674). Nebraska ranks No. 8 (4669), and Morehead State checks-in at No. 9 (4667). Last but not least, Navy finishes the list at No. 10 (4665).

The rankings are based on each team’s highest score shot in its most recent match. (See the complete top 30 college rifle teams and scores below).

CRCA Top 30 (as of November 13)

1.      West Virginia (4703)
2.      Air Force (4694)
3.      Alaska (4693)
4.      Kentucky (4691)
5.      Murray State (4682)
6.      TCU (4678)
7.      Memphis (4674)
8.      Nebraska (4669)
9.      Morehead State (4667)
10.    Navy (4665)
T-11. Ohio State (4664)
T-11. Ole Miss (4664)
13.    Akron (4660)
14.    JSU (4656)
T-15. Nevada (4649)
T-15. NC State (4649)
17.    Army (4639)
18.    UTEP (4611)
19.    UTM (4586)
20.    North Georgia (4580)
21.    Coast Guard (4559)
22.    UAB (4551)
23.    Citadel (4547)
24.    VMI (4491)
25.    Georgia Southern (4488)
26.    Wofford (4437)
27.    VMI Women (4370)
28.    MIT (4303)
29.    John Jay (4246)
30.    Citadel Women (4133)