Akron Fires Season-Best Score at NCAA Qualifier

Saturday, February 20

Columbus, Ohio

9:00 AM

University of Akron

West Virginia - NCAA Qualifier

February 22 | Rifle

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MATCH RESULTS | PHOTO GALLERY | 2020-21 AKRON STATISTICS (PDF) | AKRON 2020-21 SCHEDULE

AKRON, Ohio - The 11th-rated University of Akron rifle squad registered a season-best score of 4683 at the NCAA Qualifier on Saturday, Feb. 20, as the Zips made their presence known in arguably their biggest match of the season in Columbus, Ohio.

The performances were key as the final NCAA Qualifier matches will be held on Monday, Feb. 22, those results will determine the top-eight teams in the nation that will earn a berth into the NCAA Championships when the field is unveiled at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at NCAA.com.

In the final team standings at the qualifier on Saturday, the Zips placed second among the three competing schools with a 4683 score. Fourth-rated West Virginia bested the field with a score of 4713, while No. 13 Ohio State rounded out the field with a score of 4661.

Last season, Akron qualified as a team for the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history. The dream didn't become reality as the championships were canceled due to COVID-19 derailing the Zips' championship aspirations.

Freshman Kayla Andreoli (Washington, Pa.) shined in the air rifle with a team-leading score of 593. She was backed up with a pair of 590's from senior Wyatt Openshaw (Parkton, Md.) and junior Andre Gross (Webster, N.Y.).

Smallbore was the game of the day as Akron led by Openshaw's score of 583, equaled a season-high team mark of 2324. The Zips also benefitted from scores in the 580's as Gross recorded a 582 scorecard and freshman Gavin Perkowski (Bolivar, Ohio) setting a new personal-best mark of 581.

Akron's 4683 total fired is exactly the same as the qualifier score registered last season.

The Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) rifle championships are up next for the Zips this Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27-28. Akron will battle against eight of the top-ranked teams in the nation for the GARC Championship. Smallbore will be fought out Saturday, finishing up with air rifle on Sunday. Competition will take place virtually this season and get underway each day at 9 a.m.

AIR RIFLE SCORES:
Kayla Andreoli (593-5th), Wyatt Openshaw (590-8th), Andre Gross (590-9th), Gavin Perkowski (586-12th), Jeanne Haverhill (586-13th)

SMALLBORE SCORES:
Wyatt Openshaw (583-6th), Andre Gross (582-8th), Gavin Perkowski (581-9th), Kayla Andreoli (578-12th), Jeanne Haverhill (573-17th), Jakob Rankin (573-18th), Rebecca Spencer (573-19th), Samantha Shultz (570-21st), Lauren Kadooka (566-22nd), Antonio Remedios (566-23rd), Katie Paltz (555-29th)