MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Feb. 28, 2025) – Seven shooters from the West Virginia University rifle team earned a combined 24 honors on the 2024-25 All Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) Team, the league announced. Hayhurst Family Head Coach Jon Hammond, Gavin Barnick, Ashlyn Blake and Lauri Syrja each claimed individual leagues honors in addition to their all-conference nods.
Of WVU's 20 All GARC team honors this year, six student-athletes made the smallbore team, seven made the air rifle team and seven were a part of the combined (smallbore and air rifle) team.
Additionally, senior Gavin Barnick was named the GARC's Shooter and Senior of the Year, after averaging scores of 593 in smallbore, 597.2 in air rifle and 1190.2 overall. It marks the third straight season a Mountaineer has collected both honors with Matt Sanchez earning the honor in 2024 and Mary Tucker in 2023.
The Menasha, Wisconsin, native is the 12th student-athlete in program history to be named the conference shooter of the year. He is also the first 14th in program history named senior of the year.
Freshman Ashlyn Blake was named the GARC Rookie of the Year for her performance this season. His marks of 588.8 in smallbore, 596.6 in air rifle and 1185.4 combined average gave her the honor. The Sparta, New Jersey, native is the 10th Mountaineer to earn the distinction. It marks the second straight season a Mountaineer has claimed the honor as now sophomore Griffin Lake earned the honor last season.
Sophomore Lauri Syrja represented West Virginia in the GARC's Scholar-Athlete category. Hammond collected GARC Coach of the Year honors for the fifth time of his coaching career as he has earned the honor before in 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2017.
The trio of Barnick, Blake and Syrja swept first-team all-conference honors across all three categories.
In smallbore, Barnick was selected to the first team with the highest average (593) as Syrja (589.4), Lake (588.8) and Blake (588.8) also earned a spot on the first team. Senior Natalie Perrin (585.6) and freshman Camryn Camp were tabbed honorable mention selections.
In air rifle, Barnick (597.2), Syrja (597), Perrin (596.8) and Blake (596.6) earned first-team all-conference honors. Lake (596.2) and freshman Jacob Wisman (595.8) are featured on the second team as Camp (594.6) collected honorable mention honors.
Barnick, Blake and Syrja averaged aggregate scores of 1190.2, 1186.4 and 1185.8 respectively, to earn their spot on the first team. Lake (1185) and Perrin (1182.4) collected second-team honors as Wisman (1180) and Camp (1179.6) received honorable mentions.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVURifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Of WVU's 20 All GARC team honors this year, six student-athletes made the smallbore team, seven made the air rifle team and seven were a part of the combined (smallbore and air rifle) team.
Additionally, senior Gavin Barnick was named the GARC's Shooter and Senior of the Year, after averaging scores of 593 in smallbore, 597.2 in air rifle and 1190.2 overall. It marks the third straight season a Mountaineer has collected both honors with Matt Sanchez earning the honor in 2024 and Mary Tucker in 2023.
The Menasha, Wisconsin, native is the 12th student-athlete in program history to be named the conference shooter of the year. He is also the first 14th in program history named senior of the year.
Freshman Ashlyn Blake was named the GARC Rookie of the Year for her performance this season. His marks of 588.8 in smallbore, 596.6 in air rifle and 1185.4 combined average gave her the honor. The Sparta, New Jersey, native is the 10th Mountaineer to earn the distinction. It marks the second straight season a Mountaineer has claimed the honor as now sophomore Griffin Lake earned the honor last season.
Sophomore Lauri Syrja represented West Virginia in the GARC's Scholar-Athlete category. Hammond collected GARC Coach of the Year honors for the fifth time of his coaching career as he has earned the honor before in 2008, 2010, 2016 and 2017.
The trio of Barnick, Blake and Syrja swept first-team all-conference honors across all three categories.
In smallbore, Barnick was selected to the first team with the highest average (593) as Syrja (589.4), Lake (588.8) and Blake (588.8) also earned a spot on the first team. Senior Natalie Perrin (585.6) and freshman Camryn Camp were tabbed honorable mention selections.
In air rifle, Barnick (597.2), Syrja (597), Perrin (596.8) and Blake (596.6) earned first-team all-conference honors. Lake (596.2) and freshman Jacob Wisman (595.8) are featured on the second team as Camp (594.6) collected honorable mention honors.
Barnick, Blake and Syrja averaged aggregate scores of 1190.2, 1186.4 and 1185.8 respectively, to earn their spot on the first team. Lake (1185) and Perrin (1182.4) collected second-team honors as Wisman (1180) and Camp (1179.6) received honorable mentions.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVURifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
