Mary Tucker won't say yet why she is leaving Kentucky. (Photo by USA Olympics)
Even winning four national championships did not generate the attention for the Kentucky rifle team that Monday’s announcement by Mary Tucker did.
Tucker, a junior, had been on two national championship teams at Kentucky and won a silver medal at last year’s Summer Olympics. That’s why it was so shocking to learn Tucker not only was transferring from UK but also was so mysterious about why she’s doing that in a post on Instagram
“Most of these last three years have brought so much success and fantastic experiences,” Tucker posted. “Everything I have achieved thus far, from NCAA championships to Olympic medals, have been achieved with the University of Kentucky supporting me.”
Now here comes the part that is baffling — at least for now.
“That being said, for reasons I will never know, it’s in my best interest to enter the transfer portal,” Tucker posted.
Reasons she will never know? What the heck?
I’ve seen more social media comments on Tucker and UK rifle since Monday than I ever have. On my weekly appearance on the Leach Report with Tom Leach Tuesday, the first topic we discussed was rifle and Leach had no guess on what had happened, either.
Tucker thanked the school and UK Athletics and expressed gratitude for the opportunities afforded her during her time at UK. What she didn’t do was mention coach Harry Mullins or express any appreciation toward him.
Tucker was second to teammate Will Shaner in the individual smallbore championship at this year’s NCAA championships — an event she won in 2021. She also finished second in the individual air rifle this year after winning in 2021. Tucker was the top aggregate scorer at the NCAA championships in 2021 and 2022 when UK won national titles.
At the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, she won a silver medal in the 10-meter rifle mixed team. In 2021, she won gold in 10-meter air rifle at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup.
Tucker certainly indicated at the end of her Instagram that she eventually will have a lot to say about what forced her to transfer.
“I gave you my all. I wish it could have been enough. I’ll speak my truth when the time is right. I will always bleed blue, but everything comes to an end, it’s time for the next adventure,” she said.
8 Responses
You did not answer your own question! If there is something seriously wrong, then it needs to be investigated immediately. Mitch needs to get to the bottom of this now! Students need to be protected and feel safe. Why are more answers not being demanded? You do not lose someone of her stature, unless there is a major problem.
If I knew the answer, I would share it
Jilted lover?
Jilted lover? What the F*** is wrong with you? Why would you project your old high school insecurities on this woman? It sounds as if she was treated poorly. Do you have a guess why that might be that ISN’T condescending?
If not I can help.
Yeah there is a lot to this and anxious to see what it will turn out to be
Rumor was that perhaps she signed a NIL deal that, while conforming to NIL guidelines, the university did not support (perhaps with a firearm manufacturer).
Any truth to that?
I have no idea but that could be a possibility
Definitely seems strange. I personally have known Coach Mullins for almost 20 years and he is an outstanding person. Definitely weird she just up and left.