Collegiate Rifle: Kentucky Wins GARC Championship

by
posted on March 3, 2020
** 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. **
uk-garc_1.jpg

Hot off the heels from earning a NCAA rifle championship berth, the No.1-ranked Kentucky rifle team won the 2020 Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) championship with a total score of 4711-302X (2385-192X air rifle, 2326-110X smallbore). The two-day tournament concluded Saturday, Feb. 29 in Memphis, TN.

Ruby Gomes, 2020 GARC rifle championship
Kentucky sophomore Ruby Gomes finished second in air rifle. (Photo courtesy of Univ. of Kentucky Athletics.)


Kentucky dominated the match, taking top team honors for both air rifle and smallbore. On the individual side of things, at the top of the heap was Kentucky freshman Mary Tucker, who boasted the top final aggregate score with 1189-83X. Her teammate, both for Kentucky and the Olympic team headed to Tokyo this summer, sophomore Will Shaner, was right behind Tucker with the second highest individual aggregate score of 1180-88X. But, in the individual smallbore final, Tucker had to settle for runner-up after she was bested by Nebraska junior Emily Cheramie, 460.2-454.3. However, the air rifle podium was all Kentucky, with Shaner taking the top spot, followed by sophomore Ruby Gomes and Tucker in third place.

WVU rifle team, 2020 GARC Championship
"It's great experience," said WVU rifle coach Jon Hammond of the match. "It's very competitive, and they were a lot of great shooters there. Often the scores are lower in a tournament-style setting, and you can see that across the board, so that's a big challenge." (Photo courtesy of WVU Athletic Communications.)


Despite owning the most titles in conference history at 13, including the last 10 consecutive years, the No. 3-ranked WVU rifle team finished second with an aggregate score of 4693-298X (2370-180X air rifle, 2323-118X smallbore). With four shooters in the air rifle final, WVU sophomore Jared Eddy was the squad's top shooter, finishing fourth with a score of 204. Up next for the WVU rifle team is the NCAA championship beginning Friday, March 13. Something to note before NCAAs—WVU's sole loss during the regular season was to No. 1 Kentucky.

Akron rifle team
Akron finished third at the GARC championship with a final score of 4683-280X. (Photo courtesy of Univ. of Akron Athletics.)


Rounding out the top three at the 2020 GARC championships was No. 5 Akron, who finished the contest with a team aggregate score of 4683-280X (2368-166X air rifle, 2315-114X smallbore). Sitting in fourth place after smallbore, Akron's third-place air rifle performance moved them up to third place overall. Top shot for Akron was sophomore Jeanne Haverhill, who entered the air rifle final with her individual score of 594-45X and placed eighth in the final.

Below are the team aggregate scores for the 2020 GARC championship.

  1. Kentucky, 4711-302X
  2. WVU, 4693-298X
  3. Akron, 4683-280X
  4. Nebraska, 4678-294X
  5. Navy, 4678-261X
  6. Ole Miss, 4666-268X
  7. NC State, 4657-265X
  8. Memphis, 4655-262X
  9. Army, 4646-234X


This year's GARC championship was a preview of the upcoming NCAA rifle championship later this month. Some of the best student-athletes in the country, 48 in all, will face off in Kentucky on its home turf at the Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, March 13-14. SSUSA will be on site to provide live coverage, so be sure to subscribe to the free Insider newsletter for the latest collegiate rifle news.

Lead photo courtesy of Univ. of Kentucky Athletics.


More collegiate rifle coverage:

Latest

Mullers ARC July2025 1
Mullers ARC July2025 1

NRA Announces Dianna & Ryan Muller As Brand Ambassadors For America’s Rifle Challenge

NRA announces Dianna & Ryan Muller as brand ambassadors for America’s Rifle Challenge program, promoting AR-15 marksmanship, safety and training.

Eley’s New Trial Packs Let Competition Shooters Find Their Perfect Rimfire Match Ammo

Eley launches trial ammo packs to help shooters test and match precision .22 LR rounds to their firearms.

Ava Downs Captures Junior Olympic Trap Title On Home Turf

Hillsdale’s Ava Downs takes gold in women’s trap at the 2025 USA Shooting Junior Olympic Championships hosted at the Halter Center.

Brandon Powell Claims 8th Georgia State Sporting Clays Title

Brandon Powell wins his eighth Georgia State Sporting Clays Championship, continuing his dominance with multiple top finishes at the 2025 tournament.

Vincent Hancock Claims 30th ISSF Medal As Team USA Dominates 2025 Lonato World Cup

Team USA shines at 2025 ISSF Lonato World Cup with golds from Vincent Hancock and Sam Simonton, plus silver for Dania Vizzi.

Jon Shue Clinches Third Straight NRA National Precision Pistol Championship Title

Shue continues his dominant streak in bullseye pistol shooting after 2025 NRA National Precision Pistol Championship victory.

Interests



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