ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Sophomore Kelly Buck captured medalist honors in smallbore and was runner-up in air rifle as Army's rifle team upset Navy, 5770-5738, at Bancroft Hall Monday afternoon in the annual "Star" match that was switched to Monday due to serve weather in the Mid-Atlantic Region over the weekend.

The Midshipmen came into the match ranked No. 5 in the latest Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association poll with a 4613.2 average, while the Black Knights listed ninth at 4591.9.  It is the third straight year that Army has defeated Navy in Annapolis as the Black Knights boosted their all-time lead in the series that began in 1939 to 38-32.

"Our scores today certainly helped us for the upcoming NCAA Qualifier that we are hosting Saturday," said Army head coach Ron Wigger as the Black Knights will be in the hunt for their eighth straight NCAA berth. "It was a confidence builder for our team as Navy has a more senior roster while eight of our 11 shooters are underclassmen. We will be able to more relaxed now heading into the Qualifier."

Buck's 581 nipped Navy's Chris Burleson by a point for medalist honors in smallbore as the Black Knights claimed three of the top four finishes. Sophomore Sara Lehman claimed the bronze with a 578 with team captain Charles Ridge finishing fourth behind a season-best 575.  Freshmen Will Mengon and Ian Young rounded out Army's five-man scoring unit with identical 570s as Army outpointed Navy 2874-2843 in that discipline.

After registering medalist honors for the fourth time in smallbore, Buck just missed out of sweeping both events in being edged by Burleson by a point after firing a 585 in air rifle. Ridge (580) and Lehman (580) tied for third place honors with Tommy Carr (577) and Chris Malachosky (574) closing out the team scoring as the Black Knights nipped Navy by a point, 2896-2895.

It is the second time this season that Army finished ahead of Navy, the first was at the of the President's Trophy Match hosted by the Black Knights in the fall. Army outpointed defending champion Navy 5789-5784 for the title with the Midshipmen beating Army in air rifle (2917-2893) and the Black Knights winning 2896 to 2867 in smallbore.

Army is back in action Saturday hosting USP in the NCAA Qualifier at Tronsrue Marksmanship Center starting 9 a.m. Army has competed at the NCAA Championships every year since 2002, Wigger's second year at the helm. The Black Knights captured their first-ever title in 2005 and were runner-up in 2007 and 2008.

NOTES: The Army-Navy match was part of a busy weekend at Navy which was also hosting track and field and gymnastics along with the All-Academy Championships in wrestling ... severe weather conditions in the Washington, D.C.-Annapolis area forced all activities to be cancelled ... rifle thus far has been the lone makeup ... Army traveled to Navy on Sunday, but Annapolis was closed for classes on Monday because of the lingering snow and ice in the area ... Army has won four of the last five Army-Navy 'Star" matches with three in Annapolis and one at West Point.

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