Army West Point Athletics
Rifle Team Sweeps Triangular In 2008-09 Debut
October 04, 2008 | Rifle
CHARLESTON, S.C. Olympian Stephen Scherer was the top shooter in smallbore and shared medalist honors with team captain Wesley Hess in air rifle as Army swept The Citadel and North Carolina State Saturday afternoon in its season debut. The Black Knights' 4598 bested the Wolfpack's 4481 and host Bulldog's 4416.
The Black Knights also ushered in their Great America Rifle Conference slate with a 117 defeat of NC State. Last year’s regular-season and tournament champions, Army was picked third in the preseason poll and the Wolfpack listed seventh.
Scherer’ 589 mark in smallbore was not only a career high, but earned him a share of second place in the NCAA annals as his score was one point shy of the record set last year by former teammate Chris Abalo. The Army sophomore tied with Hess for top honors in air rifle as each fired 587s.
Freshman Sara Lehman, earning her way into the scoring unit in both disciplines, shot a 568 in air rifle and 561 in smallbore. Veterans Nathaniel Holcomb and John Manzano were also numbered among Army’s four-man unit, shooting a 578 and 562, respectively, in air rifle and smallbore.
Army dominated both events, posting a 2320 air rifle mark and 2278 in smallbore in combining for its 4598 composite. NC State was second in both events with a 2274 in air rifle and 2207 smallbore, while The Citadel followed with a 2224 in air rifle and 2192 in smallbore.
Freshman Kira Brown, firing individually, turned in a 581 in air rifle in her collegiate debut.
In the midst of a rebuilding season following the graduation of the most decorated class in school history, head coach Ron Wigger noted that he was pleased with the team’s performance in air rifle, while at the same time having to contend with growing pains.
NOTES: Army opened its 84th season as a varsity sport and fourth straight year winning its lid lifters ... the Black Knights will be back on the road next weekend and will be tested when they head to Nebraska for a GARC match Friday followed the next day by a match in Lincoln, Nebraska against Air Force ... it is the first time in coach Ron Wigger’s tenure that Army will be firing head-to-head with the Falcons ... the Black Knights, the defending GARC champions, were picked third in the preseason poll and the Cornhuskers listed fourth.
