Huskers Look to Repeat as GARC Champions

The No. 2 Nebraska rifle team looks to defend its Great American Rifle Conference title this weekend at the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>PatriciaC.LamarNationalGuardReadinessCenter in Oxford, Miss.  The smallbore competition will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 6:15 a.m., while the air rifle shootout is on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 6:15 a.m.  Individual champions will be determined by finals at the end of each day. 

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“The team is looking forward to having a tough match so we can get in championship form,” Nebraska Coach Launi Meili said.  “This is a great match because we will be going against two other teams that have also qualified for the NCAA championships in March, so we can see how we stack up.”

 

Seven other teams will be competing for the GARC title, including Army, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Memphis, West Virginia University, North CarolinaState and Xavier. 

 

The Huskers hold an 8-3 record, with losses to the defending national champions, Alaska-Fairbanks, Army and Kentucky. 

 

“There will be more individuals at the GARC championships than there will be at nationals,” Meili said. “This is a much larger competition and a good practice run for the NCAA’s.”

 

No Stranger to Success

Since joining the Great American Rifle Conference in 2004-05, Nebraska has claimed two conference titles.  Last season, NU not only won the championship, but also earned several individual awards.  Nebraska Coach Launi Meili was named the 2006 GARC Coach of the Year, while Misty Chanek, a 2006 graduate, was also recognized as the 2006 Senior of the Year. 

 

In addition, Kristina Fehlings earned first-team honors in both smallbore, air rifle and combined.  Chanek also earned first-team honors in smallbore and combined, and was named to the second-team in air rifle.  Andrea Franzen earned first-team air rifle honors and second-team honors in combined.  Kirsten Weiss earned second-team honors in smallbore. 

 

Huskers Earn Bid to NCAA Championships

The NCAA selection committee recently announced the eight-team field for the seventh annual NCAA rifle tournament in Fairbanks, Alaska, on March 9-10.

 

Nebraska, Alaska-Fairbanks, Army, Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Texas Christian University, Navy and Murray Sate will all compete for the title.

 

NU’s bid marks its fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships and the sixth trip in school history.

 

Last season, the Huskers finished a program-best second overall in the team competition.  Senior Kristina Fehlings earned the second individual title in NU rifle history by shooting a career-high 592 for first place in air rifle.  She also finished fifth (585) to post Nebraska’s highest smallbore finish.

 

Senior Steps Up

After seeing limited action in 2005-06, senior Stacy Underwood has greatly improved her level of play during her final season.  Not only has she assumed a greater leadership role, but Underwood is one of Nebraska’s most dangerous weapons in both air rifle and smallbore.

 

Underwood has claimed four individual air rifle titles this season.  Her best finish was against TCU and Air Force, where she shot a career-best 594.  She also claimed first in smallbore against Memphis with a score of 581, as well as several second-place smallbore finishes.