Racers Tie Season High - Claim OVC Championship Crown - Murray State University Athletics

Saturday, February 1

Murray, KY

9 a.m.

Murray State

4728

2025 OVC Rifle Championship

Racers Tie Season High - Claim OVC Championship Crown

2/1/2025 4:33:00 PM | Rifle

Murray State rifle outshot UT Martin and Morehead State to claim its fifth-straight OVC crown.

By: Charlie Williams

The Murray State Racers recorded scores of 2350 in smallbore and 2378 in air rifle for an aggregate of 4728 to win the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in Murray, Ky. on Saturday.

The Racers defeated OVC foes Morehead State and UT Martin who fired scores of 4666 and 4654, respectively.

Murray State senior John Blanton claimed the top individual spot with an aggregate of 1188. The Brookings, S.D. native set or matched season-highs in all categories as his 589 in smallbore and aggregate are his best results of the season. His 599 in air rifle was top in the category and matches a mark set on January 17, 2025, at the Withrow Invitational.

The Navy & Gold took each of the top four spots, with freshman Carlotta Salafia coming in second with an 1183. Salafia fired a 588 in smallbore and a 595 in air rifle, good for third in both categories.

Senior Scott Patterson took the final spot on the individual podium with an 1180. His 584 in smallbore was good for fifth place while he came in just behind Blanton in air rifle with a 596. Zach Jackson claimed fourth individually with an 1177 and topped the smallbore standings with a 589. His air rifle score of 588 placed him eighth in the category.

Sadie Palfrey was the leader for UT Martin, coming in fifth individually with an 1176 and posting a 585 in smallbore and 591 in air rifle. George Kuhne led the way for Morehead State with his aggregate of 1168 placing sixth individually while firing a 583 in smallbore and a 585 in air rifle.

The full OVC All-Conference Teams are as follows:
2025 OVC Rifle All-Conference Teams
Co-Air Rifle Athlete of the Year: Carlotta Salafia, Murray State
Co-Air Rifle Athlete of the Year: John Blanton, Murray State
Smallbore Athlete of the Year: Zach Jackson, Murray State
Freshman of the Year: Carlotta Salafia, Murray State
Coach of the Year: Alan Lollar, Murray State

Air Rifle First Team
Adrianna Beard, Morehead State
Trey Myers, Morehead State
Carlotta Salafia, Murray State
Scott Patterson, Murray State
John Blanton, Murray State

Smallbore First Team
Scott Patterson, Murray State
Sadie Palfrey, UT Martin
Carlotta Salafia, Murray State
John Blanton, Murray State
Zach Jackson, Murray State

Air Rifle Second Team
Chloe Shannon, Morehead State
Joey Kovach, UT Martin
Zach Jackson, Murray State
Hayden Bell, Morehead State
Sadie Pelfrey, UT Martin

Smallbore Second Team
Hayden Bell, Morehead State
Joey Kovach, UT Martin
Alayna Walther, UT Martin
Emma Lawrence, Murray State
George Kuhne, Morehead State
Air Rifle All-Newcomer Team
Carlotta Salafia, Murray State
Trey Myers, Morehead State
Sadie Palfrey, UT Martin
Chloe Shannon, Morehead State
George Kuhne, Morehead State

Smallbore All-Newcomer Team
Carlotta Salafia, Murray State
Sadie Palfrey, UT Martin
George Kuhne, Morehead State
Chloe Shannon, Morehead State
Liam Tegeler, UT Martin

The Racers now look ahead to their NCAA Qualifier on February 22 at 9 a.m. CT in Murray, Ky.

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