Army West Point Athletics
Sunday, November 6
ANNAPOLIS, MD
Army West Point
4666
at
4698
Air Force
Rifle Sets Season & Individual Highs Against AF
November 06, 2022 | Rifle
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Army West Point rifle team turned in season and individual highs before falling to Air Force, 4698-4666, in a dual match at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range hosted by Navy in Annapolis, Md., Sunday.
The Black Knights (0-5) finished just 10 points behind Air Force in smallbore (2327), but Air Force put the match out of reach in air rifle (2371-2349). All three Army scores (aggregate, smallbore and air rifle) were season highs.
Juniors Anusha Pakkam and Claudia Sigel finished among the leaders in setting the pace for the team. Pakkam was second in the aggregate scoring with an 1178, to include a team and personal high 595 in air rifle. Sigel was runner-up in smallbore, just three points behind the individual winner, with a 584.
"Saturday was a rough match (President's Trophy) for us," commented head coach Leighton Dempster. "We didn't perform to our potential, but I'm proud of how the team adjusted going into the Air Force match.
"We addressed our weaknesses and created a plan to be better moving forward and it showed. Everyone did their job, and we shot our season highs against a great team. I know we have more points to gain, and I'm confident we are moving in the right direction.
"Anusha (Parkham) did great on day two of the weekend," added Dempster. "She pushed through to the end to come out with a great score of 595 in air rifle to secure her aggregate personal best of 1178 (five points shy of the program record). She's put in so much work at practice in the past few weeks, and it's good to see it come together in a match. She finished second overall against a great team, I'm excited to see what's in store for her."
AGGREGATE
Anusha Pakkam, Chris Jennings and Sigel finished among the top ten. Pakkam was second with an 1178, Jennings posted an 1161 to place ninth with Sigel next (1158).
SMALLBORE
Sigel was Army's top scorer in this discipline for the second time this weekend, equaling her season high 584, in taking the silver, with Pakkam just a point behind (583) to earn the bronze. Senior Ashley Clegg was 11th (570).
AIR RIFLE
Pakkam's 594 in air rifle was just a point behind leader Scott Rockett of Air Force for a career best. Ashton O'Connell (588), Clegg (585) and Jennings (581) grabbed the ninth through eleven spots.
"I'm especially proud of how Chris (Jennings) performed this weekend," noted Dempster." He stepped up when his teammates needed him and really made a difference on our team score. The All-Academy (President's Trophy) isn't an easy match to perform in. Air Force and Navy are two very good teams and it's a high-pressure match; seeing a plebe handle his nerves and emotions well enough to shoot consistently and contribute to the overall team score is encouraging."
UP NEXT
Army returns to action this weekend hosting GARC opponent West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 12, in closing out its fall slate.
The Black Knights (0-5) finished just 10 points behind Air Force in smallbore (2327), but Air Force put the match out of reach in air rifle (2371-2349). All three Army scores (aggregate, smallbore and air rifle) were season highs.
Juniors Anusha Pakkam and Claudia Sigel finished among the leaders in setting the pace for the team. Pakkam was second in the aggregate scoring with an 1178, to include a team and personal high 595 in air rifle. Sigel was runner-up in smallbore, just three points behind the individual winner, with a 584.
"Saturday was a rough match (President's Trophy) for us," commented head coach Leighton Dempster. "We didn't perform to our potential, but I'm proud of how the team adjusted going into the Air Force match.
"We addressed our weaknesses and created a plan to be better moving forward and it showed. Everyone did their job, and we shot our season highs against a great team. I know we have more points to gain, and I'm confident we are moving in the right direction.
"Anusha (Parkham) did great on day two of the weekend," added Dempster. "She pushed through to the end to come out with a great score of 595 in air rifle to secure her aggregate personal best of 1178 (five points shy of the program record). She's put in so much work at practice in the past few weeks, and it's good to see it come together in a match. She finished second overall against a great team, I'm excited to see what's in store for her."
AGGREGATE
Anusha Pakkam, Chris Jennings and Sigel finished among the top ten. Pakkam was second with an 1178, Jennings posted an 1161 to place ninth with Sigel next (1158).
SMALLBORE
Sigel was Army's top scorer in this discipline for the second time this weekend, equaling her season high 584, in taking the silver, with Pakkam just a point behind (583) to earn the bronze. Senior Ashley Clegg was 11th (570).
AIR RIFLE
Pakkam's 594 in air rifle was just a point behind leader Scott Rockett of Air Force for a career best. Ashton O'Connell (588), Clegg (585) and Jennings (581) grabbed the ninth through eleven spots.
"I'm especially proud of how Chris (Jennings) performed this weekend," noted Dempster." He stepped up when his teammates needed him and really made a difference on our team score. The All-Academy (President's Trophy) isn't an easy match to perform in. Air Force and Navy are two very good teams and it's a high-pressure match; seeing a plebe handle his nerves and emotions well enough to shoot consistently and contribute to the overall team score is encouraging."
UP NEXT
Army returns to action this weekend hosting GARC opponent West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 12, in closing out its fall slate.
Players Mentioned
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