Sports@DominionPost.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio — After toppling No. 11 Army 4683-4648 in its spring-season opener, the third-ranked Mountaineers rifle team is primed to take on No. 13 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, today at 9 a.m.
“We are looking for some really good performances this weekend,” Mountaineers coach Jon Hammond said. “We haven’t traveled to Ohio State in a couple years, so this is going to be a fairly new venue for a lot of them, but it’s a good opportunity. I want them to really work on the things that they have been working on in practice and commit to shooting the way that they want to shoot. They had a good week, and I think this will be a really good test for them to go out and implement that into competition.”
The Mountaineers (8-0, 7-0 GARC) have never lost to the Buckeyes, posting a 46-0 all-time record over their neighboring-state rival. The last time WVU and OSU faced each other, the Mountaineers swept the Buckeyes for a 4683-4650 victory.
Junior David Koenders is coming off placing 1st overall with an aggregate total of 1179. He hit a season-high 597 in air rifle as well.
Ohio State is coming off a home win over Airforce and UTEP on Jan. 25, claiming the tri with its second-highest total of the season (4663).
Swim set for homer with George Washington
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After splitting with Villanova on Thursday, the Mountaineers men’s and women’s swim teams are set for its final home meet of the regular season, hosting George Washington today at
11 a.m.
The meet is the final of three home meets before the Mountaineers are slated to host the Big 12 Championships.
The men’s team (4-1, 1-0) handidly defeated the Wildcats 195-96, while the women (2-3, 2-0) fell by a slim margin, 156-144.
The Colonials are coming of their own as both teams fell to William and Mary. The men lost 138-67, while the women fell
125-80.
The road meet marks the end of GW’s regular season as well before they take part in the five day long Atlantic 10 championships in Geneva, Ohio.
Track and field travels to Penn State for two-day meet
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Mountaineers continue to go head to head with 32 other teams at Penn State’s National Open after netting two top placements, returning to action today at 10 a.m.
Freshman Erica Hegele was the first to place for WVU claiming the shot put competition with a distance of 10.45 meters. Myesha Nott was the other first-place finisher, claiming the women’s triple jump with a distance of 12.42 meters.
“Racing at Penn State is always an exciting trip,” WVU coach Sean Cleary said before traveling to University Park, Pa. “The group has been back for enough time since the holidays to really show how their training has progressed. We will have a few more on the line than in the first couple meets, as we planned from the beginning. We are familiar with this track, which we hope will help us make progress.”
No. 24 West Virginia takes 3rd at George Washington gymnastics quad
WASHINGTON — Just breaking into the top 25, West Virginia was just shy of a big win at George Washington’s quad meet, falling to 3rd behind Pitt and GW, respectively.
The No. 24 Mountaineers ended with a score of 194.850, while Pitt (195.700) and GW (195.375) battled for the top spot. William and Mary was 4th at 191.425.
Three WVU gymnasts took top placements: Esperanza Abarca (Uneven bars, 9.9) Abby Kaufman (Vault, 9.850) and Abbie Pierson (Floor, 9.875). Pierson tied Pitt’s Ciara Ward and GW’s Cydney Crasa, while Kaufman tied Pitt’s Haley Brechwald.
