By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – For the second time in four years, the University of Tennessee at Martin will proudly host the Ohio Valley Conference Rifle Championship as the two-day event will take place at Skyhawk Rifle Range on Saturday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb. 5.
This weekend marks the sixth time that UT Martin has hosted the prestigious event as an OVC rifle champion was also crowned in Martin in 2020, 2012, 2006, 2003 and 2002. The Skyhawks will compete for the right to be called OVC champions alongside Morehead State and Murray State.
The championship event officially gets started with smallbore on Saturday. Two relays will take place as those will start at approximately 9:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. The air rifle portion closes out the tournament on Sunday with relays scheduled for 9:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, the 2023 All-OVC teams and the official presentation of the championship trophy will take place around 1:30 p.m. The awards ceremony will take place in Alumni Gym, located next to Skyhawk Rifle Range.
Morehead State enters the event ranked 14th nationally. Alan Joseph has won three of the last four OVC Coach of the Year awards and boasts a season scoring average of 4,667.6, firing averages of 2,359.4 in air rifle and 2,308.2 in smallbore. Three-time All-OVC performer Grace Weber’s 591.6 scoring average in air rifle and four-time All-OVC honoree Bryce Ward’s 579.3 scoring average in smallbore rank as team-highs for the Eagles, whose lone OVC Championship title came at Skyhawk Rifle Range in 2020.
Winners of six of the last seven OVC Championships is Murray State, who currently checks in at No. 8 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association rankings. Seven-time OVC Coach of the Year Alan Lollar oversees a lineup that averages 4,688.8 in aggregate scoring (2,360.8 in air rifle, 2,328.0 in smallbore). Eight-time All-OVC performer Matias Kiuru paces the Racers with a 593.0 air rifle scoring average while freshman Paola Paravati’s 585.8 scoring average in smallbore sets the tone. Murray State will be in search of its 17th OVC Championship.
Directed by 2020 OVC Coach of the Year MJ Vowell, UT Martin is ranked 19th in the latest CRCA national poll. The Skyhawks account for a 4,603.2 season scoring average, posting averages of 2,324.8 in air rifle and 2,278.4 in smallbore. Defending All-OVC Newcomer in both air rifle and smallbore Alayna Walther tops the team in smallbore scoring average (575.3) while four-time All-OVC performer Nick Fares guides UT Martin with an air rifle scoring average of 585.4.
Admission is free and all spectators are welcome to view live targets being streamed on the second floor of the Skyhawk Rifle Range. A link for live targets will be available prior to Day 1 of the competition while fans can view a live stream here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrtlfDkgajCMS8BpqvLc4yg. For more information on the 2023 OVC Rifle Championship, please visit the Championship Central link here: https://ovcsports.com/tournaments/?id=28.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information