Hammond, Mountaineers excited to bring back alumni

The 1993 classic "Sandlot" told us that "Heroes may be remembered, but legends never die."

The West Virginia rifle legends will have the opportunity to show the current team that they still have it Saturday when they face off in the program's annual alumni match.

The 4-0 Mountaineers will partake in the exhibition match, giving them the chance to compete against many of the great shooters in West Virginia rifle history, including head coach Jon Hammond.

"Alumni have fun coming back and competing against the current team," Hammond said. "It's a really good time; I'm looking forward to a fun weekend."

Graduate assistant coach Lafe Kunkel is one of the many alumni who will compete in the match. Kunkel is in his first year as a graduate assistant, returning to the program he helped return to prominence after it was reinstated in 2005.

"It's a good match to bring in the past alumni and the current players. It brings back old memories that we had together," Kunkel said.

Kunkel was a key contributor in his time spent at West Virginia, having his scores count in every match during his four-year tenure. In 2008, his senior season, he led a young Mountaineer team to the NCAA tournament for the first time in six seasons.

"I love West Virginia, and love the atmosphere of the rifle team," Kunkel said. "It's like a home away from home – a real family atmosphere."

The bond which Kunkel shared with his teammates while competing as a student-athlete at WVU played a significant role in his decision to become a graduate assistant while completing his degree in landscape architecture.

"I have a really close bond with the team, and I'm looking forward to seeing those guys," Kunkel said. "We had a real close bond because we went through a lot while we were playing here."

Hammond shared the same notion as Kunkel that the team bonding aspect is one thing that makes the rifle program so unique.

"When I was on the team we all hung out together and tailgated together. It's a great bond," Hammond said.

Hammond hopes his players will enjoy the experience of meeting some of the alumni this weekend as much as he did as an athlete.

"I remember when I was on the team; it was great to see players that were on the team 20 or 30 years before," Hammond said. "We enjoyed meeting everyone who helped make the program what it is."

Similar to the historical collegiate programs like North Carolina and UCLA in basketball, or Notre Dame and USC in football, the West Virginia rifle program is regarded as the best in the nation, having won a NCAA-best 14 national championships.

"It will be fun. Alumni love to compete against the current team, and the current players love competing against them," Hammond said.