LEXINGTON, Va. – Hoping to gain momentum for the SoCon championship in two weeks, the VMI rifle teams defeated league member Wofford College in the NCAA Qualifier held Saturday morning at Kilbourne Hall.

The men's team logged an aggregate score of 4487 (2234 SB. 2254 AR) followed by the VMI women with 4367 (2135 SB, 2232 AR) points. The Wofford mixed squad registered a tally of 4345 (2109 SB, 2236 AR) combined points.

National Rifle Association sectional awards were given to the top three finishers of both the smallbore and air rifle competitions. In the smallbore, VMI's Andrew Hickey won gold with a score of 565 and was trailed by freshman teammate William Davidson, who claimed a silver with 561. Wofford's Cierra Holcomb took home the bronze with a 556 smallbore tally.

The VMI men also achieved the highest air rifle team score of the day with 2253 points. Samantha Alexander of the VMI women's team claimed the gold spot by shooting a 574 air rifle and was followed closely by the men's team's Andrew Hickey, who shot a 569. VMI male freshman Hunter Jacob earned the bronze with a 569.

VMI's John Pitman scored team points in the smallbore with a 555 while freshman Nick Reynolds was the final scorer for the squad with his 553 for the event.

In the men's team air rifle, behind Hickey and Jacob was freshman Chris Milliken, who scored team points with his 558 as Matt Lusardi came in as the final scorer for the men's team with a 557.

For the women's smallbore, Loyce Lightfoot led the way with her 550 and was anchored by a 543 from Alexander. Katherine Watson (523) and Rachel Jankelow (519) also scored women's team points.

Alexander outshot the entire competition in the air rifle with her gold medal 574. Watson's score of 559 was good for second on the team while Kerrie Lightfoot (550) and Sabrina Bell (549) tallied the final team points.

The SoCon championship takes place Saturday, March 4 in Charleston, South Carolina.