WVU Rifle Team Wins 10th Consecutive GARC Championship

by
posted on February 25, 2019
** 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. **
wvu1.jpg
With an aggregate score of 4715, the No. 4-ranked West Virginia University rifle team was crowned GARC (Great American Rifle Conference) champions for the 10th consecutive time at the University of Akron's Stile Athletics Field House in Akron, OH.

WVU won the smallbore title with a 2342 score, additionally winning air rifle with a score of 2373. This victory gives the team a conference-high 13 total GARC championships.

The undefeated WVU team was also the 2018-2019 GARC regular-season champions.

WVU rifle team wins GARC chapionship
The West Virginia University rifle team receiving the GARC team championship trophy.

The 2019 GARC Shooter of the Year, WVU rifle team senior and Olympic gold medalist Ginny Thrasher earned a third consecutive air rifle title with a score of 249.4. She will graduate with five career GARC championship titles under her belt.

"We're happy with the overall results," WVU rifle team coach Jon Hammond said, adding, "It probably wasn't our strongest air rifle showing, but that's okay because we now know where we can improve as we continue to prepare for the NCAA Championships."

Two-time NCAA smallbore rifle champion Morgan Phillips, a junior on the WVU rifle squad, won the GARC individual smallbore title with a score of 461. She is pictured at the top of this article.

Nebraska finished second with a two-day score of 4666, while No. 2 Kentucky placed third with a score of 4663. Host school University of Akron Zips finished in fourth place with a score of 4655. No. 6-ranked U.S. Naval Academy placed fifth with a score of 4652.

No. 10 Ole Miss finished in sixth place with a 4648 score, with No. 8-ranked Army (4647), Memphis (4643) and NC State (4622) rounding out the GARC Championship leaderboard.

WVU will host the 2019 NCAA Rifle Championship on March 8-9 at the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, WV, utilizing the university's new mobile range. Tickets are on sale now at NCAA.com/tickets.

Photos courtesy of WVU Athletic Communications

Latest

Fedsuppressorcase 2
Fedsuppressorcase 2

New: Federal Suppressor Case

Federal Ammunition is now shipping a Suppressor Case with a heat-resistant lining and side-pinch pockets, sized for suppressors up to 10 inches at $39.99.

Peiser Reaches First Senior World Cup Final in Munich

Braden Peiser qualified for his first senior World Cup final and finished sixth in Men’s 50m Rifle 3-Position at the 2026 ISSF World Cup Munich.

The Mystery of the Palma Trophy

From the archives: The original Palma Trophy vanished from a Washington, D.C., corridor after 1930. NRA’s Ed Andrus traced the lost masterpiece through decades of correspondence.

Harmon and Fitzpatrick Win Team Division at 2026 Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge

Kahl Harmon and Mitch Fitzpatrick win Team division at 2026 Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge, outscoring more than 40 teams in Glenrock, Wyoming.

Winchester’s New Single Action Western Revolver Brings Old-West Styling to a CO2 Air Gun

The new Single Action Western Revolver from Winchester Air Rifles is a CO2-powered .177-cal. air gun that shoots BBs or pellets up to 450 fps.

New International Match to Debut at 2026 NRA National Smallbore Championship

A new Hands Across The Sea three-position postal match between American and Australian shooters will debut at the 2026 NRA Smallbore Nationals.



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