JACKSONVILLE – The nationally ranked Jacksonville State rifle team opened the 2014-15 season with a stellar start by claiming the Ole Miss Invitational and the Memphis Invite in the first weekend of the season.
 
The Gamecocks, who enter the season ranked eighth nationally, turned in a 4676 aggregate score against the nine-team field.  JSU topped Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State by 14 points (4662).  Ohio State claimed third with a final tally of 4643.
 
In air rifle, Jax State senior Cole Tucker was the top collegiate finisher with a final mark of 596.  Tucker was one of four Gamecocks to finish in the top six in the individual standings.  Tucker, Samantha Bullard, Brent Books and Brandon Muske led the Red and White to a 2367 score in air rifle.  Bullard and Books claimed a share of fourth place with scores of 591.  Muske was two points back with a 589 mark.
 
Books, a senior from Tippery, Pa., was to the top JSU individual in the smallbore portion of the event with a 582.  Combined, Books finished with a personal best in aggregate score with an 1173.  Bullard turned in a mark of 580 in the first competition of the year.  Senior Dan McCall and Austin Cock rounded out the scoring with final tallies of 577 and 571.
 
In the Memphis event, JSU finished with a 4675 and posted 67 points higher than second place UT Martin (4608).  Bullard and Books claimed medalist honors in smallbore with 582 marks. 
 
"I am very pleased that our team was able to come out with two very respectable scores this early in the season, already in our first two matches," said head coach Ron Frost.  "Our air rifle is very strong at this point, yet there is a little room for improvement in the smallbore discipline and we will need to place more emphasis on our smallbore training."
 
The Gamecocks return to competition on Oct. 19 as they will take on The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.