For the opening match of the 2024-2025 rifle season, Akron hosted two of the newest NCAA rifle programs in the nation on Saturday, October 5: Mount Aloysius College of Pennsylvania (just east of Pittsburgh) and Schreiner University of Kerrville, Texas. Both Division III schools are startup programs hoping to make their mark in the NCAA.
I was pleased to see both new NCAA schools coming to Akron at the beginning of the rifle season, since it was a great chance to showcase their programs and schools.
Knowing every match is a potential part of the NCAA rifle championship selection process, the Akron Zips arrived on the range ready to take care of business. Every year after our seniors graduate, part of me wonders how we will do next season. However, my fears seem to always be dashed as the next season opens. This year is no exception. Even though last season seemed to rewrite the Akron record book, this year is starting out with a bang (pun intended). The 4709 score posted by the Akron squad on Saturday is a full 13 points more than the team started last season.
In smallbore, senior Erin Schnupp lead Akron with a career tying 588 out of a possible 600 points. Junior Natalia Siek also tied her career-high score of 586, while junior Rachael Paddock set a new career-high mark of 585. It was a stellar day for Akron on the smallbore range.
As for air rifle, Akron senior Gavin Perkowski took the top-gun honor by posting a nice 595 out of 600. He opened the match with a perfect 10-shot series of 100 and closed out the match with another 100. Senior Lex Kirk was right there with Gavin with a score of 594, including her two perfect 100s in the middle of the match. But all eyes were on the current Akron air rifle record holder, senior Rachel Engels, as she opened the match with three 10-shot series of all perfect 100s. Walking away from the match with a score of 592, Engels rounded out the top three for Akron.
Leading the way for Mount Aloysius was Kayla Trinkle, who was in ninth place on the individual leaderboard with an aggregate score of 1150-53X. For Schreiner University, Isabella Evans posted a solid score in smallbore with 543-18X.
Results: Akron vs. Mount Aloysius and Schreiner University, Akron, Ohio, October 5.
See the full match scorecard at the NCAA rifle website.
Next weekend, the Akron Zips rifle team will travel to Murray State University. On Friday, October 11, Akron will go head-to-head with University of Tennessee-Martin, followed by No. 6 Ole Miss on Saturday, October 12. Both days of competition will kick off at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. The targets may be viewed live at this link.
Learn more about the Akron, Mount Aloysius College and Schreiner University rifle teams.
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