WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Norwich University rifle team continued its early-season progression on Sunday, posting a season-best aggregate score while collecting a pair of Mid-Atlantic Rifle Conference (MAC) victories in a four-team match hosted by the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Competing alongside defending national champion West Virginia University, John Jay College, and the United States Coast Guard Academy, Norwich finished the afternoon with a 4,380 aggregate behind scores of 2,135 in smallbore and 2,245 in air rifle.
The Cadets' air rifle total established a new modern-era program record, surpassing the previous mark of 2,243 set at the MAC Championships to close the 2025-26 season.
West Virginia continued its strong start to the year with a 4,756 aggregate, firing a 2,367 in smallbore and 2,389 in air rifle. Norwich did not overtake the defending national champions, but the Cadets earned conference victories over both John Jay and Coast Guard in the overall aggregate as well as in each individual discipline.
John Jay finished with a 4,329 aggregate, posting a 2,098 in smallbore and 2,231 in air rifle.
Sophomore Katie Gillooly led Norwich's record-setting air rifle effort with a 569, finishing just three points shy of her personal best.
Junior Magali Delarosa Cuenca followed with a career-best 567, while freshman Meryah White continued the strong start to her collegiate career by establishing a new personal collegiate high with a 556. Senior Sage Kontny rounded out Norwich's scoring group with a 553.
The Cadets also produced several personal-best performances in smallbore.
Junior Makeda Watson paced the Norwich scoring lineup with a career-best 544, while junior Angelica Kopec established a personal record of her own with a 536.
Senior Ben Kelley matched Kopec with a 536, while White completed the Norwich scoring four with a 520.
"It was a better match than last weekend, although we still have some work to do," said Head Coach Todd Mansfield '02. "I think it was good for the team to be on the line with the defending national champs. It evoked a focus that I think will continue for the rest of the season.
"We did set a new program record high score in Air rifle and had a number of personal records in both guns, and the team is continuing to show the commitment needed to get even better."
The performance marked another step forward from Norwich's season opener against MIT, when the Cadets posted a 4,299 aggregate. Sunday's 4,380 represented an 81-point improvement overall, while the air rifle lineup climbed from 2,215 in the opener to the record-setting 2,245 mark at West Point.
NORWICH LEADERS:
Norwich will now have nearly three weeks away from competition before returning to Baroffio's Rifle Range during Parents & Family Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The Cadets will host Schreiner University in an NCAA and MAC matchup, marking the Mountaineers' first visit to Norwich and Baroffio's Rifle Range in Northfield.
