Zych Leads No. 10 Tigers Over Two Days in Bluegrass State

Sunday, January 19

Murray, Ky.

University of Memphis

4703

4731

Withrow Invitational

Gabriela Zych during the Rifle Match vs. Jacksonville State on 10142023.

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Zych Leads No. 10 Tigers Over Two Days in Bluegrass State

Jan 20, 2025 | Rifle

MURRAY, Ky. – The No. 10-ranked University of Memphis rifle team completed two days of competition Monday at the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range in Murray, Kentucky to open the spring season.

The Tigers took fourth overall in the Withrow Invitational with a 4704 aggregate on Sunday, before falling 4736 to 4699 in a dual match with No. 1 Kentucky on Monday.

Junior Gabriela Zych was the top Tiger on the weekend, finishing third overall amongst more than 50 individuals in the Withrow Invitational behind an 1188 aggregate, which was one point shy of the program's record.

Zych then took second place in the standings against Kentucky with an 1186 aggregate.

"This was a really good weekend in Murray with some stellar individual performances," head coach Morgan Phillips said. "Megan (Jaros) and Sophie (Cruz) in particular set multiple personal bests. Gabriela nearly tied her program record in smallbore and continues to show her consistency week to week.

"We have a lot of depth and are really excited to see our freshmen making an impact. This coming weekend will be another great opportunity and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do."

KEY MOMENTS

Gabriela Zych was outstanding for Memphis on Sunday with a third-place finish (1188 agg.)
- Zych was third overall in smallbore (591) and sixth in air rifle (597).
On Monday against the Wildcats, Zych took second overall with her 1186 aggregate.
- She posted the top smallbore score at 592 with 38 centers and then shot the fourth-best air rifle score at 594 with 45 centers.
Sophie Cruz finished eighth overall against Kentucky with a season-high 1176 aggregate, just two points off her career high.
- She also posted a career high-tying 585 in smallbore against the Cats.
Cruz set a career high on Sunday with a 595 in air rifle.

The Tigers finished third in the Withrow Invitation with 303 centers. Kentucky (347) and Murray State (331) only had more.
Zych has posted three-straight matches with 1184+ aggregate scores and 590+ in smallbore.
- She finished one off the program record with a 592 smallbore against UK on Monday.
Megan Jaros posted career bests in smallbore (584) and aggregate (1171) on Sunday in the Withrow Invitaitonal.

UP NEXT
The Tigers are back at home this weekend for the first time since November. They will welcome No. 5 Murray State to the R.F. Fogelman Rifle Range on Saturday before making the trek to Oxford, Mississippi to face No. 9 Ole Miss on Sunday.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE TIGERS:
For complete information on Memphis Tigers Rifle, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.