No. 12 Rifle Fires Season High in GARC Loss to No. 4 Kentucky

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Despite firing a season-high team score of 2306 in the smallbore competition, the 12^th-ranked NC State rifle team was edged by No. 4 Kentucky, 4688-4658, Friday afternoon inside the E.F. Horton Rifle Range.

The Wolfpack falls to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) matches, while the Wildcats improve to 10-1 on the year and 5-0 in conference action.

Worth Noting
- NC State Olympian Lucas Kozeniesky turned in the match's top score in the aggregate with a total of 1176 thanks to a 596 in air rifle and a 581 in smallbore.
- The Wolfpack's team score of 2306 in smallbore, eclipsed NCSU's previous season high by one (2305) fired in the season opener at home.

Smallbore Notes
- Following the smallbore competition, Kentucky held the lead over NC State after charting a 2323 to the Wolfpack's 2306 team score.
- Kozeniesky's score of 581 headlined the event for the Pack, as he claimed second place with his tally.
- Graduate student Lauren Phillips and sophomore William Marciniak each charted a total of 577 to finish in a tie for sixth.
- Juniors Caitlyn Ford and Derya Pekari were the final counting shooters for NC State, logging scores of 571 and 569, respectively.
- Freshman Claire Zanti also competed in the competition, earning a score of 571, highlighted by a perfect 100 in her first series in the prone position.

Air Rifle Notes
- Kozeniesky and Phillips highlighted the Wolfpack's performance in air rifle, as each finished among the top three.
- Kozeniesky tallied a score of 595 with perfect 100s on his fourth and fifth series and Phillips registered a 593 with a 100 on her second series.
- Ford fired NC State's next-best score with a 583, while Pekari earned a score of 581.
- Zanti rounded out the lineup for the Pack with a mark of 578.
- Marciniak competed in the event as a non-counting shooter and recorded a 580.

Aggregate Notes
- Kozeniesky's strong day earned the aggregate title by two points, as Kentucky's Heather Kirby charted an 1174.
- Phillips also finished among the top five with an 1170 to take fourth place.

Up Next
NC State returns to action Sunday afternoon when the squad takes on the host Alaska Nanooks at 1 p.m. inside the E.F. Horton Rifle Range.

No. 12 Rifle Fires Season High in GARC Loss to No. 4 Kentucky

Players Mentioned

Caitlyn Ford

Lucas Kozeniesky

Will Marciniak

Derya Pekari

Lauren Phillips

Claire Zanti