MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 4-ranked West Virginia University rifle team recently shot a score of 4737 at the qualifying match for the 2025-26 NCAA Championships. This event took place at the Bill McKenzie Mobile Rifle Range in Morgantown.
In the match, the Mountaineers tallied 2350 in smallbore and 2387 in air rifle, leading to a combined score of 9485.67 across the season. Their top scores include 4755 at Navy, 4746 at home, and 4745 at Memphis, resulting in an impressive average of 4748.67.
The scores from this qualifier will help select the top eight teams for the NCAA Championships, scheduled for March 13-14 at Ohio State’s Covelli Center. The announcement of the qualifying teams is set for February 23 at 6 p.m. ET.
The team’s lineup included notable performances from juniors Lauri Syrja and Griffin Lake, sophomores Jennifer Kocher and Camryn Camp, and freshman Oceanne Muller. Lake led the team with a stellar score of 1190, becoming the only competitor to surpass 590 in smallbore, where he scored 592. He also earned a commendable 598 in air rifle.
Camp and Muller closely followed, both scoring 1185. Camp achieved scores of 588 in smallbore and 197 in air rifle. Meanwhile, Muller shone in air rifle with a score of 599, pairing it with a 586 in smallbore.
Other contributors included Jacob Wisman, who scored 1182, and Jack Ogoreuc, with a score of 1177. Ashlyn Blake matched Ogoreuc with a 1177 as well, while Syrja and Kocher rounded out the top scores with 1176 and 1174, respectively.
This season, the Mountaineers are gearing up for the Great America Rifle Conference Championships at West Point, New York, on February 28 and March 1, with both sessions starting at 9 a.m. ET.
The world of collegiate rifle shooting is gaining popularity and has seen increases in viewership and participation levels in recent years. According to a 2022 NCAA report, nearly 7,000 athletes compete in rifle programs across the country. This growth highlights the importance of events like these, where teams showcase precision and skill.
The Mountaineers are not just competing for titles; they’re part of a growing community that values discipline, focus, and perseverance. As they head to the championships, all eyes will be on how they perform under pressure, keeping fans and coaches hopeful for another successful season.
Source link
