Return to the "POINTER VIEW"
                         February 8, 2002

Rifle team shatters three school marks at NRA sectionals
Black knights post new aggregate, smallbore and air rifle scores

By Mady Salvani
Asst. Dir., Athletic Media Relations

Junior Kim Pienkowski fired a career-high 1166 in smallbore and freshman Jared Lostetter equaled his air rifle mark of 394 as the Army rifle team broke three school records as well as a pair of range marks during the opening day of the NRA Sectionals being hosted by the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Feb. 1.

The Black Knights, the only team shooting the first day, broke the school aggregate, smallbore and air rifle marks along with the USP Range records for smallbore and air rifle. A field of 12 teams were in competition through Sunday. Army’s 6187 aggregate shattered the former mark of 6160, first set in 1986 and equaled at the Buckeye Invitational in November.

It is the third time this season Army has broken the air rifle record. The Black Knights’ mark of 1556 was five points higher than the former record also set at the Buckeye Invitational. Army’s record at the time of 1551 came just a day after the Black Knights fired a 1538 at the Walsh Invitational edging the school mark that had been on the books 12 years by a point.

Army’s smallbore mark of 4631 broke a 15-year record of 4628 set Nov. 2, 1986 at Xavier.

"We finally broke out," said Army head coach Ron Wigger. "I am very pleased with tonight’s performance. This will help us build toward the end of the season when we face Navy in our NCAA qualifying match.

"These results are indicative of a lot of hard work and overcoming the adversity we faced not having a range at the start of the season. We are starting to peak and come together as a team. This certainly shows what we are capable of," added the second-year mentor.

Pienkowski topped the Black Knights in smallbore with her 1166, bettering her previous high of 1165 set in November of 2000. Rounding out the rest of Army’s four-man team were Lostetter (1162), Paul Charbonneau (1159) and Paul Kavanaugh (1144).

Lostetter, Army’s top point producer in air rifle, shot a 394 to equal his career mark. Charbonneau followed with a career best 389 in firing Army’s second highest score. Rounding out the rest of that record-setting field were Jesus Tavares (387) and Pienkowski (386).

The Black Knights compete against RMC at Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Saturday followed by Navy in the final dual meet of the season Feb. 18 in Annapolis, Md.