Friday, March 12
Columbus, Ohio
All Day
TCU
vs
NCAA Championships - Smallbore
Rifle Set To Defend National Title
3/11/2021 2:07:00 PM | Women's Rifle
Championships start Friday
FORT WORTH – The TCU women's rifle team looks to finally defend its 2019 national title at the NCAA Rifle Championships March 12-13 in Columbus, Ohio. TCU is set to get underway at 12:15 p.m. (CT) Friday afternoon.
It marks the 15th consecutive season that the Horned Frogs will compete for a national championship. This season, the competition will take place at Converse Hall on the University of Ohio State campus.
TCU enters the match as the defending National Champions. In 2019, it claimed the overall and smallbore title while finishing as the runner-up in air rifle. Additionally, Elizabeth Marsh took home the individual smallbore national champion and Kristen Hemphill won the individual air rifle title.
This season, the Frogs have put together another impressive year. They have won or finished first in all 11 matches they shot. Highlighting the season was the Jan. 23 match at The Citadel that saw the Frogs establish program records in smallbore (2,355) and aggregate score (4,738). TCU also fired two of the top-10 program marks in air rifle (2,383) at The Citadel (Jan.23) and at the PRC Championships (Feb. 7).
As a team, the Frogs have fired two of the top 10 aggregate scores. They enter the championships ranking third nationally in aggregate score (4,715.5). The Frog have eclipsed the 4,700 mark in all but one match this season. Along the way, the clinched their fifth Patriot Rifle Conference championship.
The trio of Stephanie Grundsoee, Kristen Hemphill and Elizabeth Marsh have been dynamic this season, all ranking in the top 10 nationally in aggregate score. Joining them in Columbus will be junior Abigail Gordon, who will be shooting in the championship match for the first time in her career, and freshman Nina Schuett.
Grundsoee has fired two of the top five aggregate scores in the nation this season. She is one of two shooters nationally to shoot a perfect 600 in air rifle (at UTEP Jan. 29). Grundsoee sits second nationally in aggregate average (1,188), air rifle average (598) and smallbore (590).
Hemphill has come on strong over the last three weeks, firing a 590 in smallbore in each of the last two matches. On the season, her 586 average in smallbore ranks fifth. She also sits ninth nationally in air rifle average (594). Overall, she is seventh national in aggregate average (1,180). Marsh sits eight among national shooters in aggregate average (1,180), seventh in smallbore (586) and 11th in air rifle (594).
Gordon has a season aggregate average of 1,169.8. In air rifle, she is averaging a 591.9 and in smallbore, a 577.9. Schuett has had a solid freshman campaign, averaging a 1.167.3 overall and a 589.9 in air rifle and a 577.4 in smallbore.
On Friday, the teams will compete in smallbore. TCU boasts the third-best smallbore team average in the nation this season with a mark of 2,338.6, a 2.4 point improvement from last season's average. (2,336.2). Grundsoee ranks second in the nation with an average of 590.6. Hemphill sits sixth (596.2) and Marsh seventh with an average of 586.0.
Air rifle competition will take place on Saturday. The Frogs own the second-best average in the NCAA with a 2,376. Grundosee paces the NCAA with an average of 598. Hemphill and Marsh are tied for eighth nationally with an average of 594.
Scouting the Competition
Kentucky, looking to win its third-ever national title and first since 2018, enters the championships ranked second nationally with a 4.718.9 aggregate average. The Wildcats are led by the nation's top performer, Mary Tucker. This season, the Wildcats ranked third overall in air rifle with a 2,375.4 and first in smallbore with an average of 2,344.1.
Ole Miss, the No. 2 team in the country, has had a banner year. They rank fourth in aggregate (4,715.5), air rifle (2,371.8) and 2,337.8 in smallbore. The Rebels are led by Lea Horvath, who boasts the third-best season aggregate average in the nation.
West Virginia enters the championship match as the No. 4 team in the country. The Mountaineers have a season average of 4,720.0 and are represented by top-10 individuals Jared Eddy and Calista. They lead the nation with a 2,380.9 air rifle average and rank second in smallbore (2,339.1).
Alaska-Fairbanks enters the championships fifth nationally, averaging a team score of 4,700.3. They are led by Daniel Enger's aggregate average of 1,174.6
Memphis' Taylor Gibson rank's 11th nationally in aggregate (1,178.2). As a team, they are averaging a 4,678.
Nebraska sits seventh nationally with an aggregate average of 4,680. Emily Cheramie is their top shooter with a season average of 1,176.1.
Air Force snagged the final spot in the championships. The Falcons put together a season average of 4,681. They are led by Peter Fiori's 1,177.3 season average.
TCU Schedule of Events
Friday, March 12 - Smallbore
Relay 2 – 12:45 p.m.
Finals – 3:15 pm.
Saturday, March 13 – Air Rifle
Relay 2 – 12:15 p.m.
Finals – 2:15 pm.
It marks the 15th consecutive season that the Horned Frogs will compete for a national championship. This season, the competition will take place at Converse Hall on the University of Ohio State campus.
TCU enters the match as the defending National Champions. In 2019, it claimed the overall and smallbore title while finishing as the runner-up in air rifle. Additionally, Elizabeth Marsh took home the individual smallbore national champion and Kristen Hemphill won the individual air rifle title.
This season, the Frogs have put together another impressive year. They have won or finished first in all 11 matches they shot. Highlighting the season was the Jan. 23 match at The Citadel that saw the Frogs establish program records in smallbore (2,355) and aggregate score (4,738). TCU also fired two of the top-10 program marks in air rifle (2,383) at The Citadel (Jan.23) and at the PRC Championships (Feb. 7).
As a team, the Frogs have fired two of the top 10 aggregate scores. They enter the championships ranking third nationally in aggregate score (4,715.5). The Frog have eclipsed the 4,700 mark in all but one match this season. Along the way, the clinched their fifth Patriot Rifle Conference championship.
The trio of Stephanie Grundsoee, Kristen Hemphill and Elizabeth Marsh have been dynamic this season, all ranking in the top 10 nationally in aggregate score. Joining them in Columbus will be junior Abigail Gordon, who will be shooting in the championship match for the first time in her career, and freshman Nina Schuett.
Grundsoee has fired two of the top five aggregate scores in the nation this season. She is one of two shooters nationally to shoot a perfect 600 in air rifle (at UTEP Jan. 29). Grundsoee sits second nationally in aggregate average (1,188), air rifle average (598) and smallbore (590).
Hemphill has come on strong over the last three weeks, firing a 590 in smallbore in each of the last two matches. On the season, her 586 average in smallbore ranks fifth. She also sits ninth nationally in air rifle average (594). Overall, she is seventh national in aggregate average (1,180). Marsh sits eight among national shooters in aggregate average (1,180), seventh in smallbore (586) and 11th in air rifle (594).
Gordon has a season aggregate average of 1,169.8. In air rifle, she is averaging a 591.9 and in smallbore, a 577.9. Schuett has had a solid freshman campaign, averaging a 1.167.3 overall and a 589.9 in air rifle and a 577.4 in smallbore.
On Friday, the teams will compete in smallbore. TCU boasts the third-best smallbore team average in the nation this season with a mark of 2,338.6, a 2.4 point improvement from last season's average. (2,336.2). Grundsoee ranks second in the nation with an average of 590.6. Hemphill sits sixth (596.2) and Marsh seventh with an average of 586.0.
Air rifle competition will take place on Saturday. The Frogs own the second-best average in the NCAA with a 2,376. Grundosee paces the NCAA with an average of 598. Hemphill and Marsh are tied for eighth nationally with an average of 594.
Scouting the Competition
Kentucky, looking to win its third-ever national title and first since 2018, enters the championships ranked second nationally with a 4.718.9 aggregate average. The Wildcats are led by the nation's top performer, Mary Tucker. This season, the Wildcats ranked third overall in air rifle with a 2,375.4 and first in smallbore with an average of 2,344.1.
Ole Miss, the No. 2 team in the country, has had a banner year. They rank fourth in aggregate (4,715.5), air rifle (2,371.8) and 2,337.8 in smallbore. The Rebels are led by Lea Horvath, who boasts the third-best season aggregate average in the nation.
West Virginia enters the championship match as the No. 4 team in the country. The Mountaineers have a season average of 4,720.0 and are represented by top-10 individuals Jared Eddy and Calista. They lead the nation with a 2,380.9 air rifle average and rank second in smallbore (2,339.1).
Alaska-Fairbanks enters the championships fifth nationally, averaging a team score of 4,700.3. They are led by Daniel Enger's aggregate average of 1,174.6
Memphis' Taylor Gibson rank's 11th nationally in aggregate (1,178.2). As a team, they are averaging a 4,678.
Nebraska sits seventh nationally with an aggregate average of 4,680. Emily Cheramie is their top shooter with a season average of 1,176.1.
Air Force snagged the final spot in the championships. The Falcons put together a season average of 4,681. They are led by Peter Fiori's 1,177.3 season average.
TCU Schedule of Events
Friday, March 12 - Smallbore
Relay 2 – 12:45 p.m.
Finals – 3:15 pm.
Saturday, March 13 – Air Rifle
Relay 2 – 12:15 p.m.
Finals – 2:15 pm.
Players Mentioned
Air Rifle/Smallbore
/ Women's Rifle
Air Rifle/Smallbore
/ Women's Rifle
Air Rifle/Smallbore
/ Women's Rifle
Air Rifle/Smallbore
/ Women's Rifle
Air Rifle/Smallbore
/ Women's Rifle#TCU National Champions Day in DC #gofrogs
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