The Ohio State rifle team lost a close match to in-state rival Akron Saturday 4,523 to 4,467 at Converse Hall.

Akron won both of the day’s events – smallbore and air rifle – with scores of 2,265 and 2,258, respectively. Meanwhile, OSU (8-6) trailed with scores of 2,233 in smallbore and 2,234 in air rifle.

OSU senior Ryan Kohatsu led both squads. He has finished first in every event this season except a third-place showing in the air rifle during the team’s first meet of the season.

Kohatsu, from Hilo, Hawaii, fired winning scores of 592 in the smallbore – which tied his personal best mark of this season – and 585 in air rifle.

“I did kind of better than I hoped,” Kohatsu said.

His aggregate score of 1,177 bested second-place finisher Joe Milano of Akron, who fired a 1,146.

“I think (Kohatsu) did well,” coach Patrick Cherry said. “He’s extraordinary and a highly motivated shooter.”

Kohatsu came to OSU with experience in only air rifle, but has become one of the best shooters in the country in the smallbore, Cherry said.

“He works on all of the right stuff and proves that you can do whatever you want,” Cherry said. “He’s developed his skills with the .22 (smallbore) and I expect him to compete in nationals.”

Kohatsu said he credits his team for his success.

“(The team) has done a good job, and I couldn’t be where I am now without my team,” Kohatsu said. “Our team has good friendships which makes me want to shoot with them.”

Rounding out the top five shooters from the meet were Akron’s Angie Engle (1,139) and Laura Kuntz (1,132) and OSU’s Linnea Nygren, who shot an aggregate score of 1,129.

Nygren, co-captain of the squad, finished fifth in smallbore with a 566 and fourth in air rifle with a 563.

“I’m very pleased with (Nygren’s) work ethics and performance,” Cherry said. “She’s coming along slowly, but heading in the right direction. I think she also has a chance at nationals.”

Sophmore Andrew Wesel and freshman Kelly Lake rounded out OSU’s scarlet squad by finishing eighth (1,083) and ninth (1,078), respectively. The squad consists of the top four shooters and is chosen by the coach.

Wesel has been on and off of the scarlet squad throughout the season. He finished in eighth place in smallbore with a 547 and in ninth place in air rifle with a 536.

“I obviously feel good about it and I think it’s the team’s benefit to keep me on the squad,” Wesel said.

Wesel finished third on the team with his aggregate score.

Lake fired a 528 in smallbore, which earned her a tenth-place finish and a 550 in air rifle, good enough for an eighth place finish.

Other OSU shooters who shot individually in the match were freshman Sam Ohlinger, senior John Robak and sophmore Joshua Stine.

Stine fired a 535 in smallbore and a 532 in air rifle. Ohlinger shot 505 in smallbore and 529 in air rifle and Robak fired scores of 529 in smallbore and 497 in air rifle.

“I’m really proud of (the shooters) and it’s a joy to work with them,” Cherry said. “They are a hard-working group and work well as a team. They’re a little unpredictable, but headed in the right direction.”

The Buckeyes will travel to West Virginia to face the U.S. Military Academy on Jan. 22 and host West Virginia on Jan. 23.