Dec. 4, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Army head rifle coach Ron Wigger was impressed with the performance of three members of his team at the first qualifying round of the U.S. Olympic Trials held at the Civilian Marksmanship Range in Anniston, Ala., over the weekend.

Richard Calvin wrote Army's headlines finishing eighth in a star-studded field in the Men's 10m Air Rifle Open Class competition and second in the collegiate division. The Army sophomore fired a career-high 593 the final day to earn one of the top eight spots to the shoot-off. His score of 102.8 in the final was the second highest mark behind Olympic champion Matt Emmons' 104.6 to rank fifth following the marks set on Day 2. Calvin recorded a 1280.8 overall aggregate (585-593-102.8), while his 1178 mark in the collegiate competition trailed medalist Nicholas Daviscourt by two points.

Classmate Michael Matthews placed fourth in the collegiate competition and 16th in the Open Division with a combined score of 1173 (584-589).

US National champion Matt Rawlings, heavily favored to win the competition, did not disappoint in recording a 1297.2 to edge Emmons by 1.6 points for medalist honors. Jonathan Hall was third (1293.3) followed by US National Team member Bryant Wallizer (1287.1), and former Army school record-holder Chris Abalo (USMA '08) (1285.3), in rounding out the top five in a field of 57 shooters.

In the Women's 10m Air Rifle meet, senior Kelly Buck fired identical 391s to finish sixth with 782 total points in the collegiate competition and 15th among the 55 shooters in the Open Class with TCU's Sarah Scherer edging Emily Caruso for medalist honors on inner shots as both posted 898 points.

The second half of the Olympic Trials competition will be held in February.