CHARLESTON, S.C. – The final Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) national rankings have been released and The Citadel co-ed rifle team wrapped up the 2017-18 campaign 21
st in the nation.
The top eight spots of the poll were decided by the final results of the 2018 National Collegiate Men's and Women's Rifle Championships hosted at McAlister Field House last weekend with Kentucky taking over the No. 1 spot after winning the smallbore team title as well as the overall crown. West Virginia, which had been No. 1 for much of the season and took home the air rifle team crown at last weekend's championships, ended up second with TCU third. Murray State and Air Force rounded out the top five with Alaska Fairbanks, Ohio State, Nebraska, Ole Miss and Navy completing the top 10.
North Georgia represents the highest-finishing Southern Conference (SoCon) team as the Nighthawks ended the year 20
th. Georgia Southern finished one spot behind the Bulldogs in 22
nd. Also from the SoCon, UAB finished the campaign 24
th, VMI's co-ed squad wrapped up 25
th and Wofford finished 27
th.
The Citadel has plenty to look forward to with the rifle program heading into 2018-19 and beyond as the top three shooters from this year's squad will look to return.
Junior
Allison Auten claimed the SoCon air rifle crown this season to go along with All-SoCon first-team honors. She was also a second-team All-SoCon selection in smallbore.
Freshman
Max Brabston was named the SoCon Freshman of the Year and picked up all-conference first-team plaudits in air rifle. He also qualified for the 2018 Junior Olympics in both smallbore and air rifle.
Sophomore
Alexander McAlear showed great improvement all season long and wrapped up the 2017-18 campaign with All-SoCon honors in both guns. He picked up second-team honors in air rifle and was a first-team selection in smallbore with a podium finish of third at the SoCon Championships.
For more information on The Citadel rifle team, please follow @CitadelOlympic on Twitter or visit CitadelSports.com.
