MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (August 14, 2017) – West Virginia University Director of Athletics Shane Lyons announced today the 2017-18 rifle schedule.
The five-time reigning and nation-best 19-time NCAA Champion Mountaineers will face six of the seven teams they defeated at the 2017 NCAA Championships, including national runner-up TCU.
WVU’s slate also features eight home matches, many of which will be shot on the team’s newly purchased mobile range. Additionally, the squad will conclude its home season as host of the 2018 Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Championships.
All home matches this season will be held at the WVU Rifle Range, the WVU Shell Building or the WVU Coliseum.
“It’s always important for us to compete against the best teams so we are prepared by the end of the season,” 12-year Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. “I think the schedule this year sets up great for this team. We have a really busy fall and will shoot in one or two matches more than we typically would, but we’re going up against some great opponents.”
WVU opens the season against GARC foe NC State at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, on Sept. 23. The Citadel will play host to the 2018 NCAA Championships March 9-10 at McAlister Field House.
The Mountaineers open their home season against Ohio State on Sept. 30.
Following a trip to Nebraska on Oct. 14, WVU will return to Morgantown for three straight home matches against Mississippi on Oct. 21, TCU on Nov. 4 and Army West Point on Nov. 5. The team will conclude its fall season against Memphis and Murray State on Nov. 11-12, in Memphis, Tennessee.
WVU opens its spring season at home against Akron on Jan. 14 before traveling to Fairbanks, Alaska, to face Mississippi and Alaska-Fairbanks on Jan. 20-21. The trip is the squad’s first to Alaska since January 2015.
Following a match at Navy on Jan. 27, the Mountaineers will conclude the regular season against Kentucky on Feb. 10 in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers will shoot in an NCAA Qualifying Match on Feb. 17 in Morgantown.
The eight-time reigning conference champion, WVU will play host to the GARC Championships on Feb. 23-25. More information regarding the championships will be released on a later date.
“Hosting the championship is going to provide us with so many benefits,” Hammond noted. “Not only do we want to put on a fantastic championship, but we’re also hoping to attract a lot of spectators and introduce more fans to the sport of rifle.”
WVU will shoot for its 20th NCAA title March 9-10 at The Citadel.
Seven student-athletes return for the Mountaineers this season, including three National Champions: junior Ginny Thrasher (2016 smallbore and air rifle champion) and sophomores Milica Babic (2017 air rifle champion) and Morgan Phillips (2017 smallbore champion). WVU finished the 2017 season at 12-0, its third undefeated season in four years.
2017-18 WVU Rifle Schedule
Date Opponent Place Time
Sept. 23 NC State* Charleston, S.C. 8 a.m.
Sept. 30 Ohio State Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
Oct. 14 Nebraska* Lincoln, Neb. 8 a.m.
Oct. 21 Mississippi* Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
Nov. 4 TCU Morgantown, W.Va. 8 a.m.
Nov. 5 Army West Point* Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
Nov. 11 Memphis* Memphis, Tenn. 8 a.m.
Nov. 12 Murray State Memphis, Tenn. 8 a.m.
Jan. 14 Akron* Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
Jan. 20 Mississippi* Fairbanks, Alaska 8 a.m.
Jan. 21 Alaska-Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska 8 a.m.
Jan. 27 Navy* Annapolis, Md. 8 a.m.
Feb. 10 Kentucky* Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
Feb. 17 NCAA Qualifying Match Morgantown, W.Va. TBA
Feb. 23-25 GARC Championships Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
March 9-10 NCAA Championships Charleston, S.C. 8 a.m.
* - Great American Rifle Conference opponent
All times local
All match dates and times subject to change
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVURifle on Twitter.
The five-time reigning and nation-best 19-time NCAA Champion Mountaineers will face six of the seven teams they defeated at the 2017 NCAA Championships, including national runner-up TCU.
WVU’s slate also features eight home matches, many of which will be shot on the team’s newly purchased mobile range. Additionally, the squad will conclude its home season as host of the 2018 Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Championships.
All home matches this season will be held at the WVU Rifle Range, the WVU Shell Building or the WVU Coliseum.
“It’s always important for us to compete against the best teams so we are prepared by the end of the season,” 12-year Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. “I think the schedule this year sets up great for this team. We have a really busy fall and will shoot in one or two matches more than we typically would, but we’re going up against some great opponents.”
WVU opens the season against GARC foe NC State at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, on Sept. 23. The Citadel will play host to the 2018 NCAA Championships March 9-10 at McAlister Field House.
The Mountaineers open their home season against Ohio State on Sept. 30.
Following a trip to Nebraska on Oct. 14, WVU will return to Morgantown for three straight home matches against Mississippi on Oct. 21, TCU on Nov. 4 and Army West Point on Nov. 5. The team will conclude its fall season against Memphis and Murray State on Nov. 11-12, in Memphis, Tennessee.
WVU opens its spring season at home against Akron on Jan. 14 before traveling to Fairbanks, Alaska, to face Mississippi and Alaska-Fairbanks on Jan. 20-21. The trip is the squad’s first to Alaska since January 2015.
Following a match at Navy on Jan. 27, the Mountaineers will conclude the regular season against Kentucky on Feb. 10 in Morgantown.
The Mountaineers will shoot in an NCAA Qualifying Match on Feb. 17 in Morgantown.
The eight-time reigning conference champion, WVU will play host to the GARC Championships on Feb. 23-25. More information regarding the championships will be released on a later date.
“Hosting the championship is going to provide us with so many benefits,” Hammond noted. “Not only do we want to put on a fantastic championship, but we’re also hoping to attract a lot of spectators and introduce more fans to the sport of rifle.”
WVU will shoot for its 20th NCAA title March 9-10 at The Citadel.
Seven student-athletes return for the Mountaineers this season, including three National Champions: junior Ginny Thrasher (2016 smallbore and air rifle champion) and sophomores Milica Babic (2017 air rifle champion) and Morgan Phillips (2017 smallbore champion). WVU finished the 2017 season at 12-0, its third undefeated season in four years.
2017-18 WVU Rifle Schedule
Date Opponent Place Time
Sept. 23 NC State* Charleston, S.C. 8 a.m.
Sept. 30 Ohio State Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
Oct. 14 Nebraska* Lincoln, Neb. 8 a.m.
Oct. 21 Mississippi* Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
Nov. 4 TCU Morgantown, W.Va. 8 a.m.
Nov. 5 Army West Point* Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
Nov. 11 Memphis* Memphis, Tenn. 8 a.m.
Nov. 12 Murray State Memphis, Tenn. 8 a.m.
Jan. 14 Akron* Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
Jan. 20 Mississippi* Fairbanks, Alaska 8 a.m.
Jan. 21 Alaska-Fairbanks Fairbanks, Alaska 8 a.m.
Jan. 27 Navy* Annapolis, Md. 8 a.m.
Feb. 10 Kentucky* Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
Feb. 17 NCAA Qualifying Match Morgantown, W.Va. TBA
Feb. 23-25 GARC Championships Morgantown, W.Va. 10 a.m.
March 9-10 NCAA Championships Charleston, S.C. 8 a.m.
* - Great American Rifle Conference opponent
All times local
All match dates and times subject to change
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVURifle on Twitter.