Sunday, October 5
Murray, Ky.
9 a.m.
UT Martin
at
Murray State
Photo by: UT Martin University Relations
Skyhawks Begin New Era Sunday
10/3/2025 11:31:00 AM | Rifle
MARTIN, Tenn. – The 19th-ranked University of Tennessee at Martin rifle team kicks off its 2025-26 season Sunday when it takes on No. 1 West Virginia and No. 8 Murray State at Pat Spurgin Rifle Range in Murray, Kentucky at 9 a.m. It will be the beginning of a new era for UT Martin, as former Skyhawk student-athlete Alyana Walther takes over as Interim Head Coach for former long-time head coach MJ Vowell.
This year's edition of the UT Martin rifle team will feature five returners and two new additions. Sophia Ashford joins the squad as a sophomore transfer from Norwich, while Gallatin, Tennessee native Olivia Harvey joins as a freshman. The two newcomers join a team that includes seniors Jeffrey Bourassa and Joey Kovach, junior Aubrey Chenoweth and sophomores Rachel Haines and Liam Tegeler.
Kovach and Chenoweth lead all returners in aggregate scoring from last season at 1155.9 and 1154.7, respectively. In smallbore, the top scorers from a year ago were Kovach at 574.2 and Tegeler at 573.5, while Chenoweth led in air rifle at 587.1 and Kovach at 581.8.
Following their first match Sunday, the Skyhawks open their home slate Oct. 18-19, also against Murray State. Other home matches this season include Alaska-Fairbanks (Nov. 9), UAB (Jan. 31) and the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Rifle Championship (Feb. 7-8). Meanwhile, road trips for UT Martin this season will take place at Morehead State (Oct. 31-Nov. 1), Jacksonville State (Nov. 21-Nov. 22), Alaska-Fairbanks (Jan. 24) and finally, back to where the season began at Murray State for the annual NCAA Qualifier (Feb. 21).
This year's edition of the UT Martin rifle team will feature five returners and two new additions. Sophia Ashford joins the squad as a sophomore transfer from Norwich, while Gallatin, Tennessee native Olivia Harvey joins as a freshman. The two newcomers join a team that includes seniors Jeffrey Bourassa and Joey Kovach, junior Aubrey Chenoweth and sophomores Rachel Haines and Liam Tegeler.
Kovach and Chenoweth lead all returners in aggregate scoring from last season at 1155.9 and 1154.7, respectively. In smallbore, the top scorers from a year ago were Kovach at 574.2 and Tegeler at 573.5, while Chenoweth led in air rifle at 587.1 and Kovach at 581.8.
Following their first match Sunday, the Skyhawks open their home slate Oct. 18-19, also against Murray State. Other home matches this season include Alaska-Fairbanks (Nov. 9), UAB (Jan. 31) and the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Rifle Championship (Feb. 7-8). Meanwhile, road trips for UT Martin this season will take place at Morehead State (Oct. 31-Nov. 1), Jacksonville State (Nov. 21-Nov. 22), Alaska-Fairbanks (Jan. 24) and finally, back to where the season began at Murray State for the annual NCAA Qualifier (Feb. 21).
Players Mentioned
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