MEDIA ADVISORY

TO:                     News Directors, Sports Reporters and PSA Directors

FROM:                University Relations

SUBJECT:           NCAA Championship Rifle Team Reception

DATE:                 Tuesday, March 27, 2001 4:30 - 6 p.m.

LOCATION:         Wood Center, Fairbanks campus

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is inviting the public to congratulate the four-time NCAA championship rifle team in a victory celebration, Tuesday, March 27, 4:30 - 6 p.m. at Wood Center.

The rifle team is the only collegiate sports team in Alaska to ever bring home a number one National Collegiate Athletic Association title. The history breaking Nanooks successfully defended their national championship title for the third year in a row, and an unprecedented fourth time in less than a decade during competitions at Ohio State March 10.

Senior Melissa Mulloy, sophomores Matt Emmons and Per Sandberg and freshman Karl Olsson comprised the four-person squad. Also making contributions to the season were senior Grant Mecozzi, juniors Amber Darland and John Holz, sophomore Ginny Schlichting, and freshmen Karen Gerde.

"The team dominated the 2001 NCAA Rifle Championships at a level never seen before," said UAF rifle coach David Johnson. "All six of the qualifiers finished in the top ten individually and the top four places in the smallbore. I could have placed any four of the top six shooters on the team at the championships with full confidence that UAF would still prevail."

During the season the team shattered the team smallbore record and Emmons set two new individual national records including a perfect 400/400 in the air rifle event. Mulloy finished out her UAF rifle career by attaining the second highest team average after coming back from the Olympic games last fall.

"This is an opportunity for the entire community to recognize and appreciate what these athletes have accomplished,"said UAF Chancellor Marshall Lind. "We've just seen great things from this rifle team--not only on the shooting range--but academically as well."

Seven UAF athletes qualified for All Academic honors and led the team to the top rifle team grade point average in the nation.

CONTACT: UAF Athletics and Recreation Director, Randy Pitney at 474-6801 or email: fnrwp@uaf.edu or UAF Public Information Officer Carla Browning at 474-7778.
CJB/058ma/03/23/01