WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2014

Written by Bryan Messerly

Michael Anti was a four-time rifle All-American and national champion during his career from 1984-87.

Anti became just the second Mountaineer shooter to be a four-time first team All-American in smallbore and air rifle. He earned eight first team All-America honors over his four-year career. Anti became WVU’s eighth rifle national champion when he captured the NCAA smallbore title in 1986.

A four-year letterwinner and team captain in 1987, Anti led WVU to a 38-2 record during his career and two team NCAA Championships, competing for coach Dr. Ed Etzel. He earned a bachelor of science degree in business from WVU in 1987.

Anti spent 20 years in the U.S. Army and retired at the rank of major in 2008. He joined the Army in January of 1988 and was stationed in Korea with the 1/503 IN before being assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) at Fort Benning, Ga., as an international rifle shooter from 1991 to 1994. While at Benning, Anti also received his Airborne Badge and Ranger Tab. In 1994, he was assigned to the 1St CAV DIV at Fort Hood, Texas. Following this assignment, Anti was reassigned to the USAMU in 1998. He also spent 10 years in the Army's World Class Athlete Program.
A four-time Olympian and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, Anti learned to shoot at a junior club when he was nine so he could hunt with his father, who was also a rifle coach for the Marine Corps and the Naval Academy. Anti was a 1992 Olympian in men's 50m prone rifle, 2000 Olympian in men's 3 positions, earned the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in 3 positions, and a 2008 Olympian in men's prone. Anti is a two- time World Cup champion and won the silver medal at the 2000 World Cup Finals. Anti has been a member of the United States Shooting Team since 1981 and has won numerous national championships as well as competing in three championships of the Americas Games, three World Championship Games and two Pan American Games winning numerous team and individual medals.

Other competition highlights during Anti’s career: 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Shooting (smallbore), first place in men's prone rifle, qualifying for a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team … 2004 Olympian in men's prone rifle and Olympic silver medalist in 3 positions … 2000 Olympian in men's 3 positions, ninth place … 1992 Olympian in men's 50m prone rifle, 15th place … 2008 World Cup Sydney 3 positions champion … finished first in men's prone and 3 positions at the 2004 National Championships … finished second in men's prone and 3x40 at the Final Olympic Team Trials, double-qualifying for the 2004 Olympic Team … named a member of the 2003 Pan Am Team, but gave it up so the U.S. could fill its quota slots … 2003 men's prone National Champion … second in 3x40 at the 2003 National Championships … second in men's 3x40 and third in men's prone at the 2002 Fall Selection Match … fourth at the 2002 World Championships in men's 3x40 and winner of a quota slot … team silver in men's 3x40 and 300m 3x40 … silver medal in men's 3x40 at 2001 Championship of the Americas … bronze medalist at the 2002 National Championships in men's 3x40 … silver medals in men's 3x40 and men's 50m prone at the 2001 National Championships … silver medal in men's 3x40 at 2000 Munich World Cup Final … gold medalist in men's 3x40 at 2000 Atlanta World Cup … 2000 National Championships silver medalist in men's 3x40 … Gold in 3x40 and silver in men's 50m prone at 1991 Pan American Games … two silver and one bronze in air, men's 3x40 and prone at 1989 Championship of the Americas Games … member of the 1982 World Championships team.

A native of Winterville, N.C., Anti now resides in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he has served as an assistant coach with the Air Force Academy rifle team for the last three seasons. He and his wife, Anne, have two sons, Matt and Will.