COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State rifle team equaled its highest score of the season and in doing so matched its highest finish at the Patriot Rifle Conference Championship (PRC), finishing in third place. Alaska Fairbanks was crowned conference champions, TCU were runners-up, while Air Force (fourth), Nebraska (fifth), and UTEP (sixth) rounded out the finishing order at the championship.
The team was led by a record-equaling aggregate performance by Viktor Kiss who matched his program-record 1182 from earlier this spring. Viktor qualified for both the smallbore and air rifle individual finals where he finished eighth and seventh respectively, earning him all-conference honors in both events.
In smallbore, the team fired a score of 2326 led by the pair of Viktor Kiss and Derek Keiser who both fired scores of 585. Nathan Wehrlen fired a 582 while Ariel Hall (574), and Philip Becker (567) rounded out the team scoring. Joel Potts led the way for the individuals with a score of 570 while Annie Tomb (562) and Annabelle Stanec (544) rounded out the team scoring.
In air rifle, Ohio State fired a score of 2368 led by a team season-best score of 597 from Viktor Kiss. Derek Keiser (592), Ariel Hall (590), Annie Tomb (589), and Nathan Wehrlen (587) completed the team score for the Buckeyes. Joel Potts again led the way for the individuals firing a career-best 587, while Philip Becker (586), and Annabelle Stanec (581) rounded out individual scoring.
Coach Tanoue: “With the severe weather having a major effect on our travel as well as the PRC Championship the team showed great focus and resiliency over the weekend and were able to perform at a season-best level which was fantastic to see. As we come down the home stretch of the season our team has really been performing at a high level and we saw that again this weekend. For us to equal our highest score of the season and also place third at the championship, equaling our highest ever finish was a great accomplishment for our team and something that we will build upon as we head to Army this weekend and the NCAA Qualifier February 19.”
Ohio State heads to West Point, NY to compete with MIT and John Jay College on Saturday, February 12.
