The No. 15 N.C. State rifle team closed its 2014 season with its third consecutive first place finish in the Southeastern Air Rifle Conference Championships.
However, the team fell short of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament by placing eighth in the Great American Rifle Conference Championship, ending the 2014 season for the Wolfpack. State finished its season with an overall record of 35-9.
Wolfpack head coach Keith Miller said he had high expectations for his team going into the SEARC championships.
“Our goal was to have four of our five in the finals,” Miller said.
However, Miller’s expectations were exceeded by his team, as five members of the Pack qualified in the top eight, which Miller said was “essentially the SEARC all-conference team.” State shot extremely well in the individual competition, claiming the top three spots.
Sophomore Alex Martin claimed the honors of SEARC individual champion, despite shooting a 580 during the team rounds. Senior Madeline Pike and freshman Lucas Kozeniesky placed second and third and posted team scores of 583 and 582, respectively.
Miller said because of the new rule changes, Martin’s consistent shooting throughout the day helped him in the individual competition.
“Te way it is now, the slate is wiped clean [after the team rounds],” Miller said. “Alex had a solid final, and the other shooters around him had a couple shots that are down, and that can be the difference. If you’re consistent at a reasonably high level, then you have a chance to win the individual.”
The Pack went undefeated in the SEARC, finishing the year with 19 wins and no losses. However, State did not win a match against teams in the GARC, finishing 0-9. The team eclipsed the 4600 mark eight times on the season with a season high, 4613, coming against No. 2 Kentucky.
Kozeniesky shot his highest air rifle score of the season against the Wildcats with a 589 and his highest total score of the season as well, 1163. Redshirt senior Amy Roderer also scored season highs against Kentucky shooting a 582 in the smallbore round and recorded her highest total score on the season with an 1151. Roderer later tied her season high smallbore score when the Pack faced off against No. 1 West Virginia on Jan. 19.
Pike finished the season on career high in air, shooting a 591 in the GARC Championships. Pike ended the day in sixth place among all air rifle shooters and was one center shot away from placing into the final qualifying round. She also finished the GARC Championships with the highest total score of the season, 1166.
The Pack will lose two of top five shooters after this season, Pike and Roderer. Pike has been one of the core shooters for the past few years and holds all the individual school records.
“Maddy was our MVP last year and is right up there this year,” Miller said. “It will definitely be tough to replace her.”
Roderer greatly improved last season after a back injury put her a few steps behind. The Richmond, Vt. native stepped up big this semester, posting the highest smallbore score of the season, 582.
“[Roderer] should get a lot of the credit of helping us maintain a very high level of performance,” Miller said. “After her back injury, if you told me she was doing this, I might have doubted you. I didn’t know if she could get enough strength and stamina in her back to be able to shoot the remaining schedule we had this year.”
Although State will have a tough time replacing these shooters, Kozeniesky, Martin, and sophomore Daniel Cliff are all core shooters who will be returning next season for team action.
The team is excited to get junior Dani Foster back next year, after she missed the entire season due to a broken leg.
“Dani was our MVP two years ago. She has been training really hard and has had rehab done on her leg,” Miller said. “I think she will come back really strong.”
