Husker Shooters Better Buckeyes

Columbus, Ohio -- The Nebraska rifle team picked up an impressive win over the weekend while posting several season-highs. Highlighted by season-high scores in both smallbore and air rifle, Nebraska defeated Ohio State 6,183 to 6,117, on Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Lt. Hugh W. Wylie Range in Converse Hall.

Against the Buckeyes, Nebraska was led by the duo of junior Amanda Trujillo and Melissa Downsbrough, both of whom fired scores of 1,165 in the smallbore to tie for second and help the Huskers to a season-high total of 4,637. The score was a season-high for Downsbrough, and marked the third time this season the State College, Pa., native has broken 1,160 with the .22 caliber rifle. Freshman Alicia Sawyer broke the 1,160 barrier for the third consecutive match with an 1,162, while senior Rachel Spiry, a Lincoln East graduate, fired a 1,145 - nearly 13 points better than her season average. Ohio State junior Abhijeet Konduskar won the individual smallbore title with a 1,168.

Trujillo was also strong in the air rifle, winning the individual competition with a 392, as the Huskers tied their season-high air rifle score (1,546). In addition, Downsbrough fired a 387 to earn her second runner-up honor of the day, while Sawyer fired a 385. Junior Terim Richards shot a 382 to round out the scoring for Nebraska.

Nebraska also had several shooters compete as individuals. Sophomore Karen Aspden fired a 1,105 in the smallbore and a 371 in the air rifle. Meanwhile freshman Laura Johnson, a Waverly, Neb., native, has shown steady improvement throughout the season. Johnson, who started competing on Jan. 11, has improved her smallbore score in each of her four outings and fired a season-high 1,100 against the Buckeyes. Johnson was also solid with the air rifle, finishing 12th with a 370.