The UTM Rifle Team will open its season on the road this weekend against Ohio Valley Conference rival and defending NCAA national champions, Murray State University.

“This will be a tough match to start the season with, especially since we are in a rebuilding year,” said UTM Rifle Team Coach Bob Beard.

Although eight seniors graduated last year, Beard retained the reigning OVC champion Courtney Rea, a junior from Martin.

Rea, along with freshman standouts Jennie Fladebo from Washington, Penn.; and Devra Harvey from Mora, Minn.; look to continue what has become a long-standing tradition of winning at UTM.

The two freshmen will be expected to make an immediate impact on the team.

Harvey, who was the 2001 Junior Olympic Bronze Medalist, trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Co.

Fladebo was the 2002 Minnesota state champion and shot in the national finals in three-position air rifle.

Only time will show the true potential of the team.

Next weekend UTM will compete against Austin Peay and Morehead State, both of which will present strong challenges in the OVC this year.

“After those matches, we will know where we stand in the OVC and how much we need to work,” said Beard.

Beard, in his 21st year as head coach, looks to continue his string of top 20 finishes.

For the last 20 years as coach, his team has never finished outside the top 20 in the national rankings at the season’s end.

“We will have to work hard to keep the streak alive,” said Beard.

UTM will also go to the Walsh Invitational in Ohio.