UAFS Lion Rifles rank 4th in national championship

story and photos submitted by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith finished as the fourth-ranked air rifle team in the country at the inaugural Intercollegiate Rifle Club Championship at Purdue University.

"It was an amazing trip for our students," said faculty adviser and coach Roy Hill. "They got to compete in the very first match of this kind, connect with college club shooters from all over the country and meet some famous and important people. It was quite a weekend."

Morgan Welch of Springdale shot a 535, good enough for 15th overall in the nation. Tom Nugyen of Fort Smith fired a 519, placing him at 21st in the nation. Alex Chanprasith of Fort Smith added a 511, which gave him 22nd in the nation.

Andy Land of Dover was not eligible for individual honors, but turned in a career-best 519, tying him with Nguyen.

"For Andy to shoot that score was phenomenal," Hill said. "He’s been shooting precision rifle for a little less than a semester, and for him to crank out his career best at such a high-pressure match is amazing."

The team total of 2,084 put UAFS behind Clemson University, with a 2,186; the University of Michigan, with a 2,177; and Illinois State University, which had a 2,176. UAFS finished ahead of Michigan State, with a 2,077; Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which had a 1,992; and host Purdue University, which ranked 1,747.

The day before the match, the UAFS team met former Washington Redskins all-pro defensive tackle Dave Butz, who recently joined the board of the NRA collegiate competition division. Out of all the shooters practicing for the match, Nguyen was selected to give Butz an air rifle shooting lesson.

"It was an honor and a pleasure," Nguyen said. "I was a little nervous about teaching him air rifle, but he made it really fun."

After the match was complete, Butz competed against all the air rifle shooters in a "fun shoot." The college competitors had to shoot air rifles at targets from three times the normal competition distance, without wearing any special support clothing. Before shooting, they had run a lap around the range building and then inflate three balloons and pop them by sitting on them.

Butz, who did not have to run, blow up balloons or pop them, took the top score. Nguyen credits Butz’s victory partly to the instruction he provided the day before.

"I think I gave him some information that helped," Nguyen said. "Because he is an athlete, he was able to adapt very quickly, and it was natural for him."

Andy Land took fourth place overall in the fun shoot, winning a Nerf gun.

Hill spoke of the significance of the national completion.

"This is a great moment for all the UA Fort Smith students who have ever been part of this team," said Hill, "and all the UA Fort Smith staff, faculty and administrators who’ve supported us over the years. We thank you all and hope we can continue to represent UA Fort Smith at such a high level in this sport."

Hill also credits the grant Lion Rifles received from the National Shooting Sports Foundation for the team’s success, as well as local support from Umarex USA.

"The NSSF grant helped us outfit our shooters in appropriate shooting gear, and provide two new rifles," said Hill. "And Umarex USA has kept us in both practice and match-grade pellets. We really couldn’t do what we do without all the support."

With the core of this year’s team set to return next year, Hill thinks UAFS could make another run at a national title next year.

"There’s no reason why we can’t get right back there," Hill said. "We were ranked fifth or sixth in the country for three years before the national championship match was created. And this fourth-place finish is our highest yet. The students have been there and seen what a championship match is all about. They know what the pressure is like, and if they keep working, they will only get better."