Raiders finish 4th in WPIAL team rifle finals
Waynesburg Central was one of the smaller schools in the WPIAL Rifle Championships, but the Raiders showed themselves well by finishing fourth in the district final.
Waynesburg, who co-opts with Jefferson-Morgan, placed fourth out of seven schools with a score of 797-65x. The Raiders tied with Bethel Park, but edged the Black Hawks on the second tiebreaker, 896-72x-896-70x, with the ninth score added to the final total.
Waynesburg advanced to the state team playoffs that were held Tuesday and Wednesday at Frazier-Simplex Rifle Club. The individual championships were held Thursday with the top 15 advancing to the state tournament.
Colby Simkovic and Hunter Wasson were perfect for Waynesburg with a score of 100-10x.
Grace Kalsey (100-9x), Cameron Cernuska (100-5x), and Taylor Burnfield (100-5x) also shot 100.
Selena Phillips (99-9x), Abby Ozohonish (99-8x), and Bryce Bedelion (99-8x) rounded out the scoring for the Raiders.
Nick Guess (99-7x) and Shelby Burkett (99-6x) did not count in the final tally, though Guess鈥� final tally broke the tie for fourth place.
鈥淭he kids shot well,鈥� said Waynesburg coach Rich Rush. 鈥淭here鈥檚 very little room for error.
鈥淚 told our kids I want them to shoot their best. If we shoot our average, that鈥檚 a good thing. If we get beat, we get beat.
鈥淥ur season average was 798-60x. We had a lower score, but more 鈥榵鈥� scores.鈥�
Rush also reminded his kids to remain focused because every score counted.
鈥淲e had nothing below 99-6x. We had solid scores one through 10. I told them don鈥檛 ever give up on a score. Our ninth score was the first tie-breaker. Both our ninth and 10th score beat (Bethel Park鈥檚) ninth score,鈥� praised Rush. 鈥淭oday, they didn鈥檛 (give up) and it paid off.鈥�
Hempfield won the team title with a score of 800-62x.
鈥淗empfield is a powerhouse,鈥� said Rush.
Kayla Brownfield (100-9x), Charidan Updyke (100-9x), Levi Dunn (100-9x), Emily Thomas (100-8x), Meredith Martz (100-8x), Lydia Dunn (100-7x), Amanda Hardiman (100-6x), and Grace Dunn (100-x) counted for the Spartans.