NU Faces Defending National Champion Black Knights

As the second half of the 2005-06 collegiate rifle season gets underway, <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska heads to West Point, N.Y., for a showdown with the defending national champion Army Black Knights on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 7 a.m.  The match pits two of the Great America Rifle Conference’s best battling to extend their winning streaks as both Nebraska and Army finished the first half of the 2005-06 campaign undefeated.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

NU looks to improve its 2-3 all-time record with Army this weekend following a loss on March 12 of last season that gave the Black Knights the edge.  However, Nebraska’s scores have drastically improved in the interim with a season-high team mark of 4,687 in 2005-06, while the Black Knights have failed to score above 4,668 all season.

 

Senior Misty Chanek will continue to lead the Huskers in the smallbore, while sophomore Andrea Franz?n is anticipated to once again dominate in air rifle.  From the Black Knights, Nebraska will face the incredible talent of sophomore Chris Abalo, a two-time first team All-American and the 2005 GARC “Rookie of the Year”.  Abalo has shot consistently well during his second year with the Black Knights and has been complemented by increasingly solid performances from fellow sophomore David Amiot and team captain Lucas Weinberger.

 

This is the first of three regular-season matches remaining for the Huskers before they begin postseason competition on Feb. 11 with the NCAA Qualifier in Colorado Springs, Colo.  

 

2005-06 Season Recap

? NU vs. Air Force (Oct. 22) - The Huskers shot a 4,686 to kick off the 2005-06 season and lock down a win over Air Force at the Nebraska Rifle Range.  Senior Misty Chanek marked a score of 591 to lead the Huskers in the smallbore.  The score also tied Chanek’s career high in the discipline.  NU also performed well in the air rifle where it took the top four spots led by a score 590 by sophomore Andrea Franz?n. 

 

? NU vs. Air Force (Oct. 23) - Nebraska secured win No. 2 over Air Force in the second meeting with a season-high team score of 4,687.  The Huskers also shot a season-high smallbore score of 2,339.  Individually, several NU shooters scored career highs in air rifle including a 593 for Franz?n to tie her previous best, and a 582 for junior Stacy Underwood who bested her previous career high by five points.

 

? NU at Ole Miss (Nov. 5) - The Huskers took their winning ways on the road against Ole Miss and grabbed their third consecutive victory on Nov. 5.  Sophomore Kirsten Weiss earned top honors in the smallbore with a final score of 680, while Franz?n again dominated air rifle with a score of 592.

 

? NU at Memphis (Nov. 6) - NU secured its second consecutive GARC win against Memphis after a win against Ole Miss the previous day.  With the loss of sophomore Kim Chrostowski to the CAT Championships in Puerto Rico, Franz?n made her season debut in the smallbore lineup and finished fifth overall with a score of 580.  Chanek performed well in both disciplines and used her 585 in air rifle to share the meet title in the event with Memphis’ Krissey Bahnsen.

 

? NU vs. Kentucky (Nov. 17) - Nebraska topped Kentucky by its smallest margin of victory on the season, 4,661-4,653.  Junior Kristina Fehlings shot a career-high 591 in air rifle for a fourth-place finish overall, while Franz?n once again took the top seed with a score of 592 in regulation and 99 in finals.

 

? NU vs. UMKC (Dec. 3) - The Huskers closed out the year with their fifth win of the season as they easily routed UMKC, 4,668-4,493.  The victory marked the first time NU has not lost a match during the fall since 2001-02.  Sophomore Eva Richert scored a season-high in air rifle with a 587.  Nebraska notched the top four spots in smallbore with senior Misty Chanek taking top honors with a match-high score of 590.