Sunday, October 10
Murray, Ky.
2 p.m.
UT Martin
at
Murray State
Photo by: UT Martin University Relations
VETERAN UT MARTIN RIFLE SQUAD BEGINS 2021-22 CAMPAIGN ON SUNDAY AT MURRAY STATE
10/8/2021 10:28:00 AM | Rifle
MARTIN, Tenn. – For the first time in 231 days, the University of Tennessee at Martin rifle team will be in action when the Skyhawks open the 2021-22 season at Murray State on Sunday, Oct. 10.
UT Martin is ranked No. 19 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association preseason poll after finishing the 2020-21 campaign in that same slot. MJ Vowell enters her fifth season as head coach of the Skyhawk rifle program and presides over a roster that includes six returners and three newcomers.
"Overall, the team outlook is very positive," Vowell said. "I could tell this week during practice that the excitement is building – they're ready to shoot. We have some strong returners and I'm seeing some significant potential in our freshmen. This group is capable of moving up in the national standings as the season progresses."
All six of UT Martin's returnees have at least two years of experience – five of which have been a member of the Skyhawk program for at least three seasons. That leads to a sense of familiarity for Vowell as she will look to take advantage of the most veteran roster in her tenure.
"Four of our student-athletes gained an extra year because of the COVID-19 clause so that is a plus for us," Vowell said. "With a seasoned team, I think there's less apprehensiveness and less nervousness. The older ones know the routine, they know me, they know how we do things. On the firing line, they have the experience of already being here several years so they provide kind of a calm across the team."
Jennifer Plocinik and Rachel Sprague both return after All-Ohio Valley Conference campaigns a season ago. Plocinik paced UT Martin in air rifle in each of the final 13 matches while leading the team in aggregate scoring on nine different occasions and in smallbore four times in 2020-21. Sprague topped the Skyhawks in smallbore scoring nine times, led the team in aggregate scoring on five separate occasions and shot a team-high tally in air rifle in three matches last season.
Nick Fares (572 average in air rifle, 556 average in smallbore) was also a regular in UT Martin's scoring lineup in both guns a season ago. Kalen Royal made 13 appearances in the scoring lineup in smallbore to go along with four starts in air rifle while Abigail Donald (11 starts in air rifle) and Rachel Mills (one start in smallbore) also earned valuable experience in 2020-21.
A trio of freshmen have also put together impressive performances since the Skyhawks opened practice on Aug. 16. Jesse Chamberlain was an integral part of multiple high school Pennsylvania state champion squads while Alayna Walther posted four top-10 finishes in the Pennsylvania state rifle high school championships, including top honors in 2020. Victoria Petersen was a part of the Hendersonville (Tenn.) High School squad that took part in the USA Shooting Junior Olympic State Championship Qualifier earlier this season, winning a bronze medal in the Women's 3 Position Smallbore event.
Sunday marks the first of eight regular season matches on UT Martin's docket in 2021-22. All six matches in the fall will take place on the road before the Skyhawks hold their home opener on Jan. 22-23 against UAB and North Georgia. The OVC Championships are set for Feb. 5 in Murray, Ky. while the NCAA Qualifier will also take place in Murray on Feb. 19-20.
UT Martin is ranked No. 19 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association preseason poll after finishing the 2020-21 campaign in that same slot. MJ Vowell enters her fifth season as head coach of the Skyhawk rifle program and presides over a roster that includes six returners and three newcomers.
"Overall, the team outlook is very positive," Vowell said. "I could tell this week during practice that the excitement is building – they're ready to shoot. We have some strong returners and I'm seeing some significant potential in our freshmen. This group is capable of moving up in the national standings as the season progresses."
All six of UT Martin's returnees have at least two years of experience – five of which have been a member of the Skyhawk program for at least three seasons. That leads to a sense of familiarity for Vowell as she will look to take advantage of the most veteran roster in her tenure.
"Four of our student-athletes gained an extra year because of the COVID-19 clause so that is a plus for us," Vowell said. "With a seasoned team, I think there's less apprehensiveness and less nervousness. The older ones know the routine, they know me, they know how we do things. On the firing line, they have the experience of already being here several years so they provide kind of a calm across the team."
Jennifer Plocinik and Rachel Sprague both return after All-Ohio Valley Conference campaigns a season ago. Plocinik paced UT Martin in air rifle in each of the final 13 matches while leading the team in aggregate scoring on nine different occasions and in smallbore four times in 2020-21. Sprague topped the Skyhawks in smallbore scoring nine times, led the team in aggregate scoring on five separate occasions and shot a team-high tally in air rifle in three matches last season.
Nick Fares (572 average in air rifle, 556 average in smallbore) was also a regular in UT Martin's scoring lineup in both guns a season ago. Kalen Royal made 13 appearances in the scoring lineup in smallbore to go along with four starts in air rifle while Abigail Donald (11 starts in air rifle) and Rachel Mills (one start in smallbore) also earned valuable experience in 2020-21.
A trio of freshmen have also put together impressive performances since the Skyhawks opened practice on Aug. 16. Jesse Chamberlain was an integral part of multiple high school Pennsylvania state champion squads while Alayna Walther posted four top-10 finishes in the Pennsylvania state rifle high school championships, including top honors in 2020. Victoria Petersen was a part of the Hendersonville (Tenn.) High School squad that took part in the USA Shooting Junior Olympic State Championship Qualifier earlier this season, winning a bronze medal in the Women's 3 Position Smallbore event.
Sunday marks the first of eight regular season matches on UT Martin's docket in 2021-22. All six matches in the fall will take place on the road before the Skyhawks hold their home opener on Jan. 22-23 against UAB and North Georgia. The OVC Championships are set for Feb. 5 in Murray, Ky. while the NCAA Qualifier will also take place in Murray on Feb. 19-20.
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