The UTM rifle team began its 2021 spring schedule over the weekend, taking on NC State in Oxford, Mississippi on Saturday and Ohio State in Murray, Kentucky on Sunday.
The Skyhawks compiled 4,534 points against NC State, falling to a Wolfpack squad who tallied 4,668 points. The next day, UTM was defeated by a 4,660-4,521 margin to the Buckeyes.
Jennifer Plocinik paced the Skyhawks in aggregate scoring in both matches. The redshirt senior from Lehighton, Pennsylvania dialed up 1,143 points against NC State and followed that with 1,148 points in the matchup against Ohio State. She also topped UTM in air rifle scoring in both matches (583 against NC State, 582 against Ohio State) and in smallbore against Ohio State (566). Jacob Osborne’s 562 tally in smallbore ranked as a team-high against NC State.
Redshirt senior Amanda Mayo also enjoyed a successful weekend, setting new career-highs in both disciplines. Her 565 in air rifle on Saturday against NC State eclipsed her previous career-best score by one point. Against Ohio State on Sunday, the Lawrenceville, Georgia native bested her previous career-high smallbore score by three points with a 557 tally.
Against NC State, the Skyhawks accumulated 2,294 points in air rifle. Plocinik’s aforementioned performance plus Abigail Donald (571), Nick Fares (571), Osborne (569) and Kalen Royal (564) made up the team scoring.
In smallbore, Osborne’s top effort was joined by Plocinik (560), Fares (560), Royal (558) and Mayo (551) as UTM accounted for 2,240 points in the event.
Following Plocinik in air rifle against Ohio State was Fares (572), Osborne (564), Donald (561) and Royal (556). As a team, the Skyhawks accrued 2,279 points while Mayo also secured a score of 561 after competing individually.
Osborne (564), Royal (555) and Fares (546) each joined Plocinik and Mayo as contributors to UTM’s team smallbore scoring (2,242) on Sunday.
The Skyhawks wrap up the regular season next weekend with a pair of home matches. UTM hosts UAB on Saturday, Jan. 23 before taking on Ohio Valley Conference rival Jacksonville State on Sunday, Jan. 24. Both matches will begin at 9 a.m.
Photo Credit / Sports Information
