Rifle Closes Out Season at GARC Championships

Saturday, February 24

West Point, N.Y.

8:00 AM

Army West Point

4683

GARC Championships

Rifle Closes Out Season at GARC Championships

February 25, 2024 | Rifle

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Host Army's West Point rifle team was hoping for a strong finish during the two-day GARC (Great America Rifle Championships), and though turning in solid scores throughout its lineup, came up short in the team scoring.

Defending GARC champion West Virginia, ranked No. 1 nationally, led the field with a 4759 sweeping the team titles in both disciplines – smallbore (2366) and air rifle (2393). The Mountaineers' aggregate score set an NCAA record. Kentucky was runner-up with a 4737 followed by Ole Miss (4717) and Memphis (4714) to place third and fourth respectively in rounding out the top half of the lineup.

Army fired a team score of 4683 behind a 2329 in smallbore, just six points off its season high, followed by a 2354 air rifle mark to place seventh behind fifth-place Navy (4703) and Akron (4701).

Setting the pace for the Black Knights was Anusha Pakkam in smallbore and air rifle. An honorable mention All-GARC selection in smallbore, Pakkam fired a 583 to place 24^th among a field of 63 shooters in smallbore for Army's second highest score in that event trailing Kyle Kutz' mark of 586 for 14^th place.

Chris Jennings and Claudia Sigel posted identical 580s to finish 33^rdand 34^th respectively, in rounding out Army's top scores in smallbore.

Pakkam authored a 594 air rifle, which is just two off her season best, to finish 19^th overall while trailing individual team leader Gavin Barnick of West Virginia, who fired a perfect 600, for that honor. Chris Jennings and Sigel both fired respective 591s to place 30 and 31^st, respectively.

Four GARC teams will compete at the NCAA Rifle National Champions March 9-10. West Virginia, No. 1 nationally, will host the tournament and the Mountaineers will be joined by fellow GARC schools No. 4 Kentucky, No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 7 Navy.