Huskers Disappointed With Qualifier Performance

Fairbanks, Alaska - In its only chance to qualify for a third consecutive berth in the NCAA Championships, the Nebraska rifle team left Fairbanks, Alaska, disappointed. The Huskers fired a 4,601 in the smallbore and a 1,531 in the air rifle in their NCAA Qualifying match on Sunday, Feb. 24. It will be a close call to determine which teams will head to Murray, Ky., as the number of teams in each discipline is determined by the total number of competitors. Nebraska currently sits ninth overall in smallbore and 12th in air rifle, but Coach Karen Anthony believes it probably isn't enough.

"There's very little chance that we'll qualify with the smallbore rifle or the air rifle as a team," Anthony said. "I am disappointed and the entire team is disappointed."

In the smallbore competition, freshman Alicia Sawyer was Nebraska's top gun firing a 1,161, marking the fourth consecutive match that the Andover, Minn., native has bettered 1,160. Sawyer shot a career-best 398 in the prone position, a mark that ties for fourth-best all-time at Nebraska. Junior Amanda Trujillo shot a 1,155, followed by sophomore Melissa Downsbrough (1,149) and senior Rachel Spiry (1,136).

In the air rifle, Downsbrough led the Huskers with a 391, followed by Trujillo (388), senior Terim Richards (382) and Sawyer (370).

Even if the Huskers don't qualify as a team, there is a possibility that a few Huskers could compete in the individual competition. The final field will be announced later this week.

Nebraska also competed in a triangular with host UAF and Murray State on Saturday. Nebraska finished third with 6,122 points. Alaska ran away with the victory tallying 6,270 points, bettering runner-up Murray State (6,173) by nearly 100 points.

With Nebraska's top shooters taking the line, the Huskers struggled with the smallbore rifle, firing a 4,586, nearly 17 points below their season average. Trujillo and Sawyer were the only Huskers to better 1,135 in the smallbore, firing scores of 1,162 and 1,160, respectively.

Following a season-low 1,134 in the smallbore, Downsbrough rebounded to fire a team-high 389 in the air rifle, a mark that was matched by Trujillo. Richards followed with a 388, while Sawyer shot a 370. The Huskers' score of 1,538 was two points shy of their season average.