Nebraska Rifle Finishes Third at Roger Withrow Invitational

Murray, Ky. - The fifth-ranked Nebraska rifle team used consistent scores in air rifle to secure a third-place finish at the Roger Withrow Invitational on Sunday at Pat Spurgin Rifle Range in Murray, Ky. Nebraska shot scores of 4,623 in smallbore and 1,558 in air rifle for an aggregate score of 6,181. Alaska-Fairbanks, the defending national champions, won the event with an aggregate score of 6,273 (4,700, 1,573), while No. 2 Kentucky finished second with an aggregate score of 6,215 (4,653, 1,562).

Freshman Melissa Downsbrough demonstrated why she has been one of the Huskers' top shooters this season, finishing eighth in smallbore with a 1,164 and 12th in air rifle with a 390. Sophomore Nicole Allaire was also solid, firing a 1,164 in smallbore to finish just ahead of Downsbrough. Allaire recorded 59 center shots to Downsbrough's 58 to finish 11th. In the air rifle competition, Allaire finished 12th with a 389.

Sophomore Amanda Trujillo, Nebraska's most consistent shooter this season, showed why she leads the team in air rifle, firing a team-high 391 to finish fifth. However Trujillo's talents aren't limited to one rifle. The Brush, Colo., native fired a 1,161 in smallbore to finish 13th. Junior Terim Richards rounded out the air rifle team, firing a 388 (16th), while freshman Heather Pissos competed on the smallbore team firing a 1,134 to finish 31st.

Nebraska's smallbore score was their fourth highest this season, while the air rifle total of 1,558 was one point shy of the school record. Nebraska had two shooters fire 390 or better and all four team members were within four points of each other.

"We have never had a match with (air rifle) scores so consistently tight," Coach Karen Anthony said. "From top to bottom, we've got a four point spread between all four members of the team. I'm real pleased with that kind of consistency."

The Huskers will use the next few weeks to prepare for the NCAA qualifying match on Feb. 10, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Several qualifying matches are held across the country with the top eight team scores in both air and smallbore advancing to the NCAA Championships March 8-10, in Columbus, Ohio.