This weekend, the UMKC rifle team competed in Sectionals held at University of Wisconsin in Osh Kosh, Wisc. Head Coach Mike Hornbeck, who has been confident that the team would do well all along, was not disappointed. The team placed first in both events. The team scored a 2298 total in the small bore event and 2298 in the air rifle.
Kilee Courter led the small bore competition with 581 and 28 center shots. Calee Courter followed with 575 and 32 center shots. Alisha Sawyer added 567 and 25 center shots, and Evan Williams added 575 and 27 center shots.
In air rifle, the scores were just as impressive. Calee Courter shot a 582 and 38 center shots to lead the Kangaroos. Kilee Courter added 577 points and 35 center shots, Sawyer added 568 and 26 center shots, and Williams added 571 and 32 center shots. And with that, the team took home the tournament plaque against some of the best teams in the nation. "The Titans, University of Wisconsin-Osh Kosh [coached by Mark Bernarde] has had some of its former team members try out for the Olympics and others have gone on to join the U.S. Army's shooting team," said Hornbeck.
The Winking Lizards, coached by 26-year veteran Newt Engle of the University of Akron-Ohio, is not an easy team, either. They took first place at the Quadrangular meet at Penn State on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005.
"Although the team scored first in all events, they still aren't guaranteed a place in the championships [held in Colorado Springs, Colo., during the month of March]. Participants in the championships will consist only of the top 18 rifle teams across the nation," said Hornbeck.
Some of the top shooters include Joe Milano, who scored 580, and Sarah Kramer, who made 567 score.
The Kangaroos are waiting to see if their performance earned them a spot in the Championships in March. The rifle team has numerous victories under their belt such as Rose-Hulman and TCU, and they finished second at Boilermaker Invitational.
ywilliams@unews.com
