It was a monumental year for the Morehead State Rifle team, securing numerous school records, notching the program’s highest-ever national ranking and having the entire team earn academic honors.
The Eagles recently wrapped up the season with Brandon Bryer (19) (smallbore) of Scarborough, Maine, and senior Alexa Potts (air rifle) of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, earning spots in the NCAA Championships. Morehead State finished the year ranked #9 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association final poll, the highest spot in program history.
The Eagles placed second in the Ohio Valley Conference for the second consecutive season. It was once again the highest finish ever in the league for the team.
In addition to these accomplishments, all nine members of the Eagle Rifle program have earned Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association Scholastic All-American accolades for 2018-19. To qualify, an athlete must have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA for the fall semester or have garnered a cumulative 3.20 or better GPA for their college career following the fall semester.
Those who earned the honor this season are Bryer; Siarra Crum (19) of Portage, Pennsylvania; sophomore Erin Diehl of East Earl, Pennsylvania; sophomore Katie Frye from Greenburg, Pennsylvania; junior Ryan Hinson of Ridgefield, Washington; senior Jesse Moyer of Hollsopple, Pennsylvania; Alexa Potts; senior Karly Potts of Ephrata, Pennsylvania; and sophomore Amber Schifano of Belleville, Pennsylvania.
Among many other highlights, here are some of the top moments during the 2018-19 season:
- Alexa Potts was named Air Rifle All-American, First-Team All-OVC for air rifle and smallbore, set the school smallbore individual scoring record (586 with 42 center shots) at the OVC Championships, set the school air rifle individual scoring record (595 with 45 center shots) versus Jacksonville State, set the school individual smallbore 20 shots prone school record (200 with 19 center shots) at the OVC Championships and set the individual aggregate school record (1180) at the OVC Championships.
- Bryer was named First-Team All-OVC in smallbore and Second-Team All-OVC in air rifle.
- Diehl was named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team for smallbore, qualified for the Women’s Junior Olympics in air rifle, and set the school individual smallbore 20 shots standing school record (194 with 10 center shots) versus Georgia Southern.
- Frye was named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team for smallbore and qualified for the Women’s Junior Olympics in air rifle and smallbore.
- MSU Rifle set a combined team school record (4674) versus Kentucky in the NCAA qualifier match.
The air rifle team set a school record (2358) versus Kentucky in the NCAA qualifier match.
The smallbore team set a school record (2320) at the OVC Championships.
The Eagles were 7-0 in head-to-head matches.
Schifano qualified for the Women’s Junior Olympics in air rifle. - Ryan Hinson qualified for the Men’s Junior Olympics in air rifle and smallbore.
Head Coach Alan Joseph was named OVC Co-Coach of the Year
Rifle had the highest team GPA (3.75) of any sport at MSU for the Fall 2018 semester.
For more information about MSU Athletics, visit www.msueagles.com.