We are currently working on documenting the history of the varsity program. If anyone has pictures, scores or team rosters please contact cherry.5@osu.edu.
From the OSU Lantern June 1920
University rifle team, in its first shoot of the season defeated Indiana University April 24. 1104 to 1060. Each team fired on its home range, and the shots were transmitted by telegraph for scoring. On the same plan, Ohio State defeated Illinois by a score of 1113 to 1069. On May 8 the Buckeyes team out shot DePauw University 1126 to 1082.
From the OSU Lantern February 1921
Rifle contests between seven colleges and Ohio State have been scheduled by the Department of Military Science for a championship shoot. The teams of six men each will shoot on the indoor range pictured above and the results of the match will be wired to the opponent, contesting that day.
Indiana on February 15 will be the first match. The contests follow as they have been scheduled. DePauw, March 1; Illinois, March 8; tentative date with Colgate, March 15; Michigan, March 22; Wisconsin. April 5; Cornell, May3' Johan Hopkins, Syracuse and Columbia have been challenged but no date has been set for them.
Plans are being made to organize a faculty team, on which will be a shooting Olympian from the games this past summer at Antwerp Belgium.
From the OSU Lantern July, 1921
Shooting to a victory, the Ohio State Rifle Team came out victorious in the Intercollegiate Meets this year with a total of 176 points over all opponents.
From the OSU Lantern, October 1922
Ohio State men won the Intercollegiate Rifle Meet held at Camp Knox, KY., during the second week in august. J.T. Mazelli, 23 was the high point man, getting a score of 296, three more than is necessary as an expert rifleman.
From the OSU Lantern, date unknown but after 1948
A rifle team was recognized as a "minor" sport team by board action March 8, 1922. This activity was really sponsored by the Military Department and its recognition was largely a matter of good relations with that department.
From the OSU Lantern, February 1923
C0-ed Named on Rifle Team Elizabeth A. Falter, Columbus, who was a freshman in the College of Medicine last Quarter, was named a member of the varsity rifle team and then proved to the men that she had gained the honor by shooting a perfect score of 100 in the match between Ohio State and Boston University a few days after she had been elected. The Buckeyes made a score of 496 out of a possible 500. Ten persons from each team take part in the shoot, the score of the five high persons counting.
From the OSU Lantern, March 1923
At 50 feet any of these girls can perforate an ordinary restaurant square of butter centered in a common, kitchen variety skillet 95 or more times in 100 tries. They made the University girls rifle team by approximating that skill. After having been shaded by Depauw 487 to 485, the Ohio State knickered marksmen outscored Michigan co-eds 896 to 858.
Elizabeth M. Falter, second from the left sighting on her rifle, holds the distinction of being the first girl to break into the previously solidly masculine line-up of the Varsity rifle team and ringing a perfect 100 score as her contribution toward the Ohio State total against Boston College. Standing third from the left in the back row is Dorothy Calkins, sophomore, the daughter of George Calkins, 1895, Buffalo, former alumni president.
1923 Varsity Rifle Team
Captain E. G Herlihy --- Coach
Sergeant D.M. Beard --- Assistant Coach.
T. P. Lewis -------------- Captain
Team : R.D. Barden, R.I. Beerbower, V.W. Corfman, H.J. Elliott, E.M. Falter, E. Freeman, J.C. Hammond, C.B. Hildreth, V.A. Jackson, T.P. Lewis, J.H Lintner, W.F. Lyons, F. B. Mazelli, H.E. McFarland, M.T. Morgan, R.L Urbans
SCORES OF 1923 SEASON'S MATCHES
OSU -------------------------------- 496 Boston ----------------------------- 498
OSU -------------------------------- 498 Pennsylvania --------------------- 491
OSU -------------------------------- 993 Lafayette ------------------------- 932
OSU -------------------------------- 497 Harvard -------------------------- 486
OSU -------------------------------- 945 DePauw ------------------------- 879
OSU ------------------------------- 3701 Illinois --------------------------- 3437
OSU ------------------------------- 499 Maine ---------------------------- 491
OSU ------------------------------- 3680 Nebraska ------------------------ 3247
OSU ------------------------------ 1936 Iowa ----------------------------- 1940
OSU ------------------------------ 3554 Michigan ------------------------ 3550
OSU ----------------------------- 1912 Florida -------------------------- 1705
OSU ----------------------------- 1937 West Virginia ------------------ 1856
The Ohio state University Varsity Rifle Team 1924
The Ohio state University Varsity Rifle Team 1925
The Ohio state University Varsity Rifle Team 1926
The Ohio state University Varsity Rifle Team 1927
Note: front row 1st from Right has a Winchester 52 A, 2 nd from Right has a 1905 BSA rifle and the 3 rd from the left has a tube sight on a Winchester 52. All others seem to have Springfield’s.
Note: This picture was marked as 1927 – 28 Team and is signed as such. Anyone that could add to any of this please let us know.
The Ohio state University Varsity Rifle Team 1928
The Ohio state University Varsity Rifle Team 1929
Note: Another picture marked 1929. Not sure of the year as some of the faces match but not all.
1920's1930's19671990's200020012002200320042005Current Team
Comments or additional information can be sent to club@osurifle.org