Mark S. Beres (2008) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Mark S. Beres

Induction:
2008
Class:
1979

1975-79

Mark Beres e was a four-year letterman from 1975-79 and UA’s last National Rifle Association All-American in riflery. With little experience in the sport, Beres started slowly, averaging less than 475 out of a possible 600 during his freshman season as UA compiled a 15-6 record.

In his first collegiate match, the nervous Beres violated a team axiom to never place your rifle on a stand in front of the target return after shooting but, instead, place it on the floor. The target return knocked his rifle over, and the front site busted off as it hit the floor. The incident caused head coach Nancy Worsencroft and ram captain Newt Engle to jointly agree that Beres would never make it in the sport.

How wrong they were and, later, how happy they both were for Beres' success as a shooter.

Beres, who went on to set many records and earn All-America honors, became only the fifth rifle athlete in the 57-year history of the sport on campus to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The first season Beres averaged 475 out of the possible 600 points yet, scored enough to earn a letter as UA compiled a 21-8 season.

As a sophomore he made vast improvement as he upped his average to 533.75, third best on the team. His effort helped lead the Zip shooters to a flawless 36-0 record and the Lake Erie Intercollegiate Rifle Conference (LEIRC) Championship.

In 1977-78, Beres vaulted into the top shooter spot for UA and the LEIRC, establishing six new Conference records. On the way to 41-1 mark and another LEIRC title, Beres averaged a record breaking 558.75 score and fired a record-high 570 score that led UA to a record 2731 team score.

Newt Engle took over the UA rifle program for Beres’ banner senior campaign in which he again lead UA and LEIRC title in 27 years. Then he ended his outstanding collegiate career at the National Intercollegiate Championship at the Naval Academy by finishing 17^th in rifle and 10^th in air rifle and was accorded second-team All-America honors.

Beres continued to shoot after his UA days and has won numerous Ohio shooting titles in air, smallbore, and long-range rifle and had tryouts for the Pan American (1979 & ’83) and U.S. Olympic Games (1980, ’87, ’88).