GARC Championships Up Next for Akron

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AKRON AIR RIFLE LIVE RESULTS | AKRON SMALLBORE LIVE RESULTS | 2020-21 CRCA TOP-20 RANKINGS | 2020-21 AKRON STATISTICS (PDF) | AKRON 2020-21 SCHEDULE

AKRON, Ohio - The 11th-ranked University of Akron rifle team will vie for a team championship this weekend as the Zips battle in a virtual competition for the Great America Rifle Conference Championships this Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27-28.

The smallbore rifle competition will take place on Saturday, Feb. 27, starting at 9 a.m., before the championships conclude with the air rifle race on Sunday, Feb. 28, at the same time.

The championship field includes; No. 2 Kentucky, No.3 Ole Miss, No. 4 West Virginia, No. 6 Nebraska, No. 8 Memphis, No. 10 Army, No. 11 Akron, No. 12 North Carolina State and No. 15 Navy.

Due to current university COVID-19 protocols, family members and friends of the players and coaches, as well as fans, will not be allowed to attend on-campus events, including Akron rifle matches until further notice.

The University continues to work closely with state and local health officials on protocols for hosting events and make appropriate adjustments throughout the coming weeks. Please follow GoZips.com, the Akron Athletics app and all Zips' social media platforms for the most recent and up-to-date information.

Rewarded for the Zips' success this season, Akron freshman Kayla Andreoli (Washington, Pa.) will culminate her rookie campaign on the biggest stage following the GARC Championships as she garnered an at-large selection to compete in the air rifle at the NCAA Rifle Championships, March 12-13, in Columbus, Ohio, when the tournament pairings were unveiled on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

Andreoli earns the distinction of becoming the fifth Akron Zip to qualify as an at-large individual selection for the NCAA Championships, joining junior teammate Andre Gross (Webster, N.Y.) (2019), Matt Chezem (2015), Sarah Benjamin (2010) and Jenna Compton (2009).

Additionally, senior Wyatt Openshaw (Parkton, Md.) was selected as an alternate in the smallbore competition.

Andreoli has registered 583.41 average on the campaign in the air rifle, while posting a 576.31 average in the smallbore rifle. Collectively, she maintains a 1159.63 aggregate average in the combined disciplines.

A year ago, the Zips earned their first-ever team berth in the NCAA Championships, but were unable to compete after the meet was canceled due to COVID-19.

In 2019, Gross garnered All-America accolades after placing second in the air rifle at the NCAA Championships in Morgantown, W.Va.

Headlining Akron this season with combined averages of 1171.19, 1166.31, 1164.13, 1160.75, and 1159.63, respectively, is Openshaw, freshman Gavin Perkowski (Bolivar, Ohio), Gross, junior Jeanne Haverhill (Coopersburg, Pa.) and Andreoli.

Owning the top-five averages of 581.63, 578.63, 577.88, 576.31 and 573.25, respectively, in the smallbore are Openshaw, Gross, Perkowski, Andreoli and Haverhill.

Openshaw, Perkowski, Haverhill, Gross and Andreoli lead Akron in the air rifle averaging scores of 589.56, 588.76, 587.50, 585.50 and 583.41.

A year ago, at the GARC Championships, Akron earned a third-place finish at the Larry O. Finch Center in Memphis, Tenn.

The Zips opened the competition registering a score of 2315 in the smallbore on the strength of scores of 583 and 582, respectively, from Gross and Openshaw.

Akron entered second-day competition in fourth place and rose to third place overall on the strength of a score of 2368 in the air rifle. The Zips culminated their efforts with a cumulative performance of 4683 to place third behind Kentucky and West Virginia.

Haverhill earned a place in the air rifle finals after recording a score of 594. Haverhill shot a 118.3 in a competitive final round to finish eighth overall.

Kera Kaufman was Akron's second-highest shooter, recording a score of 592, while fellow Lauryn Cinadr and Openshaw tied for third with a 591 each.

In the Zips' regular-season finale a week ago, Akron registered a season-best score of 4683 at the NCAA Qualifier on Feb. 20, as the Zips made their presence known in arguably their biggest match of the season in Columbus, Ohio.

In the final team standings at the qualifier, 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.

Andreoli shined in the air rifle with a team-leading score of 593. She was backed up with a pair of 590's from Openshaw and Gross.

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 Perkowski setting a new personal-best mark of 581.

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

The NCAA Championships, March 12-13, will conclude the 2020-21 campaign for the Zips.

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Players Mentioned

Kayla Andreoli

Lauryn Cinadr

Andre Gross

Jeanne Haverhill

Kera Kaufman

Wyatt Openshaw

Gavin Perkowski

The University of Akron Athletics