UAF Shooters Fare Well on International Scene

Submitted by Scott Wilson
Phone: (907) 474-6807
08/06/03

While some students are spending their summers looking for jobs or relaxing on a beach somewhere, Jamie Beyerle and Matt Emmons have been setting their sights on a target, literally.

Beyerle, a sophomore on the six-time NCAA Championship University of Alaska Fairbanks rifle team, and Emmons, who graduated from UAF in 2003, shined recently in international competitions around the world. The duo competed at the Zagreb World Cup in Zagreb, Croatia, and the Munich World Cup in Munich, Germany. Beyerle also shot at the USA World Cup at Fort Benning, Ga.

"Jamie Beyerle and Matt Emmons are our top shooters and I am excited for them that they did so well this summer," said UAF head rifle coach Glenn Dubis.

"Their success is in direct relation to their hard work and dedication toward being the best they can be."

Beyerle brought home a gold medal by claiming the women’s individual title in the 50-meter, three-position competition in Croatia. She fired a 579 in qualifying with a final score of 100.7 to post a championship total of 679.7. She came right back to claim ninth in the 10-meter air rifle division with a score of 395.

Emmons finished second in the 50-meter men’s division with a 1266 individual score. He shot 1168 in qualifying and fired a 98 in the championship round. He also finished seventh in the 10-meter air rifle championship with a 696 total.

Beyerle and Emmons were the only United States medal winners at the competition.

The UAF duo traveled on to Germany to take part in the Munich World Cup. Beyerle took sixth in the 50-meter, three-position division. She shot 583 in the qualifying and followed that with a final round of 98.5 for a tournament total of 681.5, a mere six points off champion Sonja Pfeilschifter’s homeland victory. Beyerle came back to finish eighth in the 10-meter competition, firing 397 in qualifying and 100.1 in the final for a 497.1 total.

Emmons could finish no higher in 17th in the men’s 50-meter division with an 1164 total.

Beyerle fared well at the USA World Cup. She fired a 577 total in the 50-meter competition, finishing 15th overall. She also fired a 392 in 10-meter air rifle to close out the tournament in a tie for 19th.

"Jamie will be back for her sophomore season this year and we’re looking forward to seeing her have a better season than she had last year," Dubis said. "Matt finished a fine career at UAF this past season and will be greatly missed."

Beyerle closed out the 2003 collegiate shooting season by winning the NCAA championship in air rifle, while Emmons broke his own national record in claiming his third consecutive NCAA smallbore championship. He was the first shooter to ever accomplish that feat.

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