The University of Akron Athletics
Rifle Sets School Record, Takes Second at MAC Championships
March 04 | Rifle
AKRON, Ohio – Behind a school-record air rifle score, the University of Akron rifle team took second place at the Mid Atlantic Conference championships in Annapolis, Md. this weekend. For the second straight year, the United States Naval Academy edged the Zips for the league title, 4,598 to 4,563.
UA's air rifle score of 2,316 shattered the previous mark of 2,303 set this past January when the Zips hosted the Virginia Military Institute. Individually, junior Megan Reinking (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia) led the way with a career-best score of 583.
"It has been a great season and what a great way to wrap it up by setting records and finishing as the No. 2 team in the largest rifle conference in the nation," said Akron head coach Newt Engle of the nine-member MAC. "I could not be more proud."
The Zips fired a smallbore score of 2,247 for a combined total of 4,563 – more than two hundred collective points than third-place VMI (4,316).
Sophomore Melissa Lussier (Clinton, Conn./Middletown) finished just behind Reinking in the air rifle with a 581 while sophomore Michael Tokarz (Lewisburg, W.Va./Greenbrier), 577, and freshman Marybeth Brewer (Royal Oak, Mich./Berkley), 575, rounded out the record-breaking team.
The smallbore team was led by sophomore Julie DeBrita (Scotia, N.Y./Scotia Glenville), who posted a score of 574, and was followed by senior Laura Kuntz (Columbiana, Ohio/South Range).
While the regular season is over for the Zips, two Akron shooters will compete in the National Junior Olympics at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. DeBrita will represent the state of New York and Brewer will represent the state of Michigan after having accepted invitations to the prestigious event.
"This is a huge honor which is only extended to the top junior
– ages 20 or under – rifle athletes in the nation," Engle
said.
Progress of the two Zips shooters will be reported over the coming weeks.
| Team Results | Smallbore | Air Rifle | Total |
| 1. Navy | 2,261 | 2,337 | 4,598 |
| 2. University of Akron | 2,247 | 2,316 | 4,563 |
| 3. VMI | 2,155 | 2,161 | 4,316 |
| 4. Penn State | 2,126 | 2,165 | 4,291 |
| 5. USPW | 1,919 | 1,977 | 3,896 |
| 6. MIT | 2,135 | -- | 2,135 |
| 7. Princeton | 2,109 | -- | 2,109 |
| 8. John Jay | -- | 2,087 | 2,087 |
| 9. USPM | -- | 2,042 | 2,042 |
