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

Shuewinspistolnra 2026 1
Shuewinspistolnra 2026 1

Jon Shue Wins Fourth Consecutive NRA National Pistol Title

Jon Shue claims his fourth consecutive NRA Precision Pistol national title with a 2659-156X Grand Aggregate at the Cardinal Shooting Center.

Vintage USPSA Scoring Overlays Reveal A Forgotten Rule

These vintage USPSA/NROI scoring overlays lack a .40-cal. gauge and feature mysterious “eyebrow” markings tied to a long-retired scoring rule.

Wilson Combat Marks 250 Years of American Independence with Limited Edition 1911 Series

Wilson Combat’s America 250th Limited Edition 1911 Series celebrates the Semiquincentennial with commemorative engraving, including 25 pistols hand-engraved by Wayne D’Angelo.

Review: SIG Sauer P211-GTO

USPSA’s Jake Martens reviews the SIG Sauer P211-GTO, a compensated, optics-ready double-stack 1911 that feeds from P320 magazines.

2026 NRA National Pistol Championship Underway at Cardinal Center

Competition is in full swing at the 2026 NRA Pistol Nationals in Marengo, Ohio, with Jon Shue chasing a fourth consecutive title.

Dead Air Launches Limited-Edition Sandman X Suppressors Honoring Night Stalkers, 5th Special Forces Group

Dead Air’s limited-edition Sandman X suppressors honor the Night Stalkers and 5th Special Forces Group while supporting veteran organizations.

Interests



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