The storied Tennessee Tech rifle team will begin its 47th season of competition on Sunday when the Golden Eagle travel to Mississippi for the Ole Miss Invitational. Head coach Steve Law, who enters his seventh season at the helm of the program, will bring a roster of seven shooters to Oxford, Miss., for the three-day invitational.
An annual contender for both NCAA and OVC championships, the rifle team has won three NCAA titles and three OVC titles in its history. Most recently, the rifle squad secured the 2003 OVC championship and will look to reclaim that status again this season.
The rifle team consists of seven athletes - all returnees from a season ago. Leading the way for Tech is senior Curtis Gagne who was named second-team All-OVC a season ago in smallbore. Also returning for his second season is Patrick Stidham who earned OVC All-Newcomer Team accolades last season in smallbore.
Other members of the rifle team include senior Jessica McCauley, juniors Austin Litherland and Johnathan Zimmerer, and sophomores Krystle Harris and Chase Cortner.
Following the Ole Miss Invitational, the Golden Eagles will have two weeks off before beginning their home schedule against UT Martin on Sunday, Oct. 11. Tech then has three more competitions in October and one in early November before finishing its fall schedule on November 21 at the Jacksonville State Invitational.