Strong Performances Highlight Akron's Efforts at GARC Championships

Saturday, February 28

West Point, N.Y.

8:30 AM

University of Akron

GARC Championships

Strong Performances Highlight Akron's Efforts at GARC Championships

March 01 | Rifle

FINAL STATS | PHOTO GALLERY | 2025-26 AVERAGES

WESTPOINT, N.Y. - The 12th-rated University of Akron rifle team posted a school-record smallbore 2346 en route to posting the third-highest score (4713) in program history to culminate the Zips' efforts at the Great America Rifle Conference Championships on Sunday (March 1).

Akron's 2346 mark in the smallbore bested the performances of all but two schools in the field, including top-rated Kentucky.

Senior Rachael Paddock (Perry, N.Y.) qualified for the finals in the smallbore to become the first Zip to do so since Wyatt Openshaw and Andre Gross in 2020.

Senior Natalia Siek (Flemington, N.J.) qualified for the finals in the air rifle to become the initial Zips to qualify for the round since Gavin Perkowski in 2022.

It marked the first time since 2020 that Akron had finals qualifiers in both the air rifle and smallbore when Wyatt Openshaw and Andre Gross made the finals in the smallbore and Jeanne Haverhill reached the final in the air rifle.

Siek finished sixth in the combined standings with an 1185, sparked by equaling a career-best mark of 596 in the air rifle, including a perfect 200 score in the prone. She placed eighth in the individual standings in the event. Junior Logan McClimans (Jamestown, Pa.) tied a career-high in the two-gun with an 1168 mark.

Paddock equaled a career-high mark of 591 in the smallbore, including a perfect 200 in the prone. Her effort tied for second in the competition, while Siel placed eighth (589). Additionally, freshman Matthew Kimball (Pineville, La.) tied a career-best mark of 586 in the smallbore.

Redshirt senior Sally Reeke (Clifton, Va.) was named as Akron's recipient of the Scholar-Athlete of the Year.