Jacksonville State wins Newkirk, Golden Eagles finish fourth

Curtis Gagne top shooter for Tech

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Jacksonville State won the 2009 James Newkirk Invitational championship, edging Murray State, Memphis and Tennessee Tech Saturday at the Tech Rifle Range. JSU fired a team total of 4,624 to win the combined title, after placing first in both the smallbore and air rifle events.

In the smallbore competition, JSU fired 2,291 to finish first, led by Brian Carstensen (584) and Michael Dickinson (580). Murray State was second in the discipline with a 2,259, while Memphis was third at 2,249 and Tech was just eight points back in fourth at 2,241.

Curtis Gagne had Tech's top score of 568, while James Culver was next at 561. Patrick Stidham shot 560 for coach Steve Law's team and Johnathan Zimmerer was next at 552.

DIckinson topped JSU in air rifle with a 589, while Andrea Dardas shot 586 to finish in a tie for second, individually. The Gamecocks posted 2,333 to win the air competition, with Memphis (2,292) second by two points over Murray State (2,290). Tech was fourth at 2,254.

Stidham's 568 was Tech's top air rifle score, followed by Gagne at 566, Austin Litherland with 561, and Jessica McCauley at 560.

In the combined scoring, JSU finished with 4,624, beating Murray State (4,549) by 75 points. Memphis (4,541) was third and Tech (4,496) was fourth.

Gagne's 1,134 was Tech's top combined score, while Stidham shot a combined 1,128.

Tech will shoot next weekend at the Murray State Invitational, then hosts the OVC Championships, Feb. 7-8.