Post date: Apr 9, 2014 12:41:38 PM
By Danny Martin DMARTIN@NEWSMINER.COM
FAIRBANKS — Four Alaska Nanooks shooters posted top-50 scores at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup USA at Fort Benning, Ga., from March 26 to April 3.
Senior Mike Liuzza, junior Ryan Anderson and sophomore Tim Sherry represented the United States while junior Mats Eriksson shot for his home country of Sweden.
“It’s really nice to see them step beyond the college shooting and see some international (shooting),” Nanooks head coach Dan Jordan said Tuesday in a University of Alaska Fairbanks press release.
“It’s also really nice for the program so people see Alaskan athletes down there. It helps with recruiting and getting our name out there on the international scene.”
The four Nanooks each earned All-America at last month’s NCAA Championships in Murray, Ky.
Sherry, this year’s individual NCAA smallbore champion, highlighted the Nanooks’ performances at the World Cup USA with an 1,164 total in the men’s 50-meter, three-position, 120-shot event.
Despite competing among minimum qualifying scorers (MQS) and not earning a medal, his total was second in the MQS field and would have placed him 12th overall in the qualifying match for three-position.
“It’s been a steady progression all year long for Tim,” Jordan said. “Last year, not getting to go to the (NCAA) championships and left home is what I think spurred him on this year and he had something to prove.
“He stepped up and did that, so to go get some international experience, he’s looking to medal at world championships and looking to compete against the best juniors in the world.”
Anderson also shot in the three-position match, firing an 1,150 to take 35th place overall. He also competed in the 10-meter air rifle math and took 30th with a 618.5 score in the 60-shot event.
Eriksson also was on the line in the three-position and air rifle matches. He finished 46th in the three-position event with a 1,140 total and was 48th in the air rifle with a 610.0 score.
“Mats getting to go down there and shoot for his home country of Sweden is a pretty neat opportunity,” Jordan said.
Liuzza was a MQS shooter in the prone event and shot a 620.5, which was fourth in the MQS field and would have been 36th overall in the qualifying match.
“It’s really special being able to represent your country at these types of events,” Jordan said. “I did it for years and it is one of the fond things I look back on.
“For them to get a taste of that and see what pressure is when you’re out shooting with somebody else’s name on your back is really important,” Jordan said.