The Falcons welcome service academies to USAFA
11/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Rifle
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. - No. 5 Air Force rifle will welcome No. 13 Army, No. 15 Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard to the Falcon Rifle Range on Saturday, Nov. 5. The quadrangular match is called the President's Trophy Cup.
Scouting the opponents: The No. 16 Black Knights fell to No. 6 Kentucky, 4704-4651, in a Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) match at Buell Armory (Oct. 29). The Black Knights (1-2, 0-2 GARC) turned in season highs in both aggregate (4651) and smallbore (2312), the team's highest score since posting a 4653 aggregate at the GARC Championships in 2013-14. On Oct. 30, the Black Knights (2-2) claimed a 4640-4614 victory over Morehead State. The Black Knights swept both disciplines, along with claiming the top two individuals in each, posting
In its first road match of the season (Oct. 29) the Navy rifle team shot a 4,625 aggregate score to split a three-team meet versus No. 10 North Carolina State and the Citadel. Shooting at the Citadel's Inouye Marksmanship Center, the Mids fell to the Wolfpack, 4,655-4,625 and defeated the Bulldogs, 4,625-4,493. The Mids (6-3, 0-3 GARC) were up 2,304-2,297 over the Wolfpack (4-2, 2-1 GARC) after the three-position part of the competition before the Wolfpack outscored their GARC rival, 2,358-2,321 in air rifle.
Coast Guard beat MIT 4410-4201 opening with a
President's Cup history: Air Force has been in possession of the trophy three times, consecutively in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, the Falcons won the match 5839 to Army (5815), Navy (5781) and Coast Guard (5575). The Falcons' score set a new President's Cup record and was a school record. Overall, Army has the most wins (7), Navy (4) and Air Force (3).
Last week: The Falcons return to the range following a 4-0 weekend against Nevada and UTEP Oct 22-23. In the two-day triangular match, the Falcons outscored Nevada 4673-4643 and UTEP (4622). The team also beat Nevada 4696-4646 and UTEP (4622). The four wins put Air Force at 5-2 for the season (5-2 PRC).
Falcons to watch: In those matches (Oct. 22-23), Air Force senior Ryan Jacobs had a two-day total of 2356 with aggregates (1173) and (1183), respectively. On day 2, Jacobs was the overall top individual with a smallbore (588) and air rifle (595/600).
Sophomore Spencer Cap was the top shooter in the air rifle, with a 597/600. He finished second behind Jacobs on day 2 with an 1175 aggregate after scoring a smallbore 583 and air rifle 592. His two-day total was 2344 (1169 and 1175), respectively.
590s-or-better (Air): Air Force has six members this season who have air rifle individual scores at or above 590. In her last three matches, sophomore Anna Weilbacher had scores of 592, 593 and 596/600. While freshman Logan Ogden tapped off scores of 590 and three 592's in his season openers. Sophomore Nick Learn scored a
580s (Small): Four members have season-opening smallbore scores of 580 or better: Weilbacher (582 and 584), Ogden (581 and 582), Jacobs (581, 587 and 588), and Cap (583), who earned their scores in matches against Alaska, TCU,
Rifle Athlete of the Week: Senior Ryan Jacobs, rifle athlete of the week (Oct. 10 and Oct. 24). Oct. 24: Jacobs was the Falcons' top performer in both guns with a two-day (Oct. 22-23) aggregate of 2353. In the triangular (Nevada/UTEP), Jacobs scored an 1170 and then went on to shoot a career high 1183. In day two, he matched his smallbore career best with a 595/600 (first scored on Oct. 8, 2016) and had a
Falcon Focus with Coach Meili:
Around the NCAA: In the new College Rifle Coaches Association Poll (Oct. 31), Air Force dropped two spots from third to fifth in the CRCA poll. Army moved up from 16th to 13th and Navy dropped from 14th to 15th in the rankings. West Virginia remained at No. 1 followed by Murray State, TCU and Kentucky, respectively.
Up Next: Following the President's Cup, the Falcons will travel to Fort Worth, Texas, for two-day matches against the No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs on Nov. 12-13. The last time Air Force went up against TCU was Oct. 10, 2016; the Horned Frogs won 4713-4702, as both teams surpassed the 4700 mark.
Rankings - CRCA
Last update: Oct. 31, 2016
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Rank
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School
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1
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West Virginia
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2
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Murray State
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3
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TCU
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4
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Kentucky
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5
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Air Force
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6
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Alaska
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7
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Nevada
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8
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Nebraska
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8
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Ohio State
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10
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JSU
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11
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NC State
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11
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Ole Miss
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13
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Army
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14
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Memphis
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15
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Navy
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16
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UTEP
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17
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Morehead
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18
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Akron
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19
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UTM
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20
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North Georgia
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