The rifle team aimed for the top at the annual Ohio Valley Conference Championship.
Last weekend, Morehead State's rifle team went up against some of their strongest competitors at one of the most anticipated matches of the year and placed second overall.
“There is still plenty to work on, but I think we've had a good season, and this is definitely the best that our team has ever worked together,” said graduate student Grace Weber.
As of this week, the team is ranked 14 in the nation. This is a result of hard work and dedication from every member of the group. Danielle Vigil, a sophomore on the rifle team, was proud of the work her teammates have put in this year and feels that this ranking reflects that.
“We have had really good depth on our team this year,” said Vigil. “We're all pretty comparable to each other score wise, which is awesome.”
For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, the OVC hosted an official banquet for the competitors. Athletes were thankful for the opportunity to socialize and celebrate their accomplishments the night before the big match.
For head coach Alan Joseph, this social aspect is just one of his favorite parts of leading this team.
“As a coach, there's so many facets of recruitment. Development of a program, creating an atmosphere for them to thrive in academically and athletically and then seeing them graduate,” said Joseph. “It’s something that a lot of us coaches really enjoy is being a mentor to the student athlete in a sport that we love.”
The team’s next match is February 18, where they will compete at the NCAA qualifier.