Anderson paces shooters in smallbore on Day One of NCAA qualifying stage

February 19, 2013

University Relations

Jamie Foland
907-474-6807

The Alaska rifle team if half way through its NCAA qualifying stage as it completed the smallbore portion ahead of both Nevada and Texas El Paso Saturday afternoon at the UTEP Rifle Range.

Sophomore Ryan Anderson (Great Falls, Va./Biology) led all shooters with a match-high 584, which was seven points higher than two days ago and above his season average.

As a team, the Nanooks shot a 2313 while Nevada turned in a 2288 and UTEP totaled 2234.

Senior Cole Bures  (Odell, Neb./Electrical engineering) was second for Alaska with a 580 and freshman Lorelie Stanfield (Fairbanks, Alaska/Emergency management) turned in a 576 while junior Michael Liuzza (New Orleans, La./Business administration) registered a 576.

Other Nanooks competing included freshman Soren Butler (Casselton, N.D./General studies), sophomore Mats Eriksson (Malung, Sweden/Business management), freshman Tim Sherry (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mechanical engineering), junior Anna Hjelmevoll (Ulvik, Norway/Political science) and junior Dustin Chesebro (Laramie, Wyo./Engineering).

Butler, who led the Nanooks in the win over Nevada two days back, shot a 574 while Eriksson was right behind him with a 573. Following them was Sherry (572), Hjelmevoll (569) and Cheseboro (564).

Nevada's Olivia Pennell was second to Anderson with her 580 while UTEP's Hannah Muegge led the host school with a 575.

The teams will take to the range again tomorrow for the air rifle portion of the qualifier. Following Sunday's meet, the NCAA will select the eight participating teams for the 2013 NCAA Championship, as well as any other individual qualifiers.

After speaking with head coach Dan Jordan Saturday, he said that the team was right around their season averages and that the squad is sitting well as far as qualifying for the championship is concerned.