The NCAA national rifle championships are scheduled for March 11th and 12th at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The last time Nanooks shooters won a NCAA team championship was in 2008, but with an undefeated record, this year’s team has the potential to regain the title. Head coach Will Anti describes a group of athletes with great talent, work ethic and attitude.
Rifle Fun: “It’s a super fun group of guys and girls on the team. They’re fun to be around and it makes the work easy and that’s probably why its gone so well this year.”
Anti says UAF has seen stand out results from shooters like Rylan Kissel, Sara Karasova and Gavin Barnick.
Rifle Moment: “But everyone’s had their moment this season, and you know it takes probably on any given day one person kind of having their moment, and the other 4 having an average day, and that kinda adds up to a pretty respectable match.”
The solidly high level of shooting resulted in UAF breaking the NCAA scoring record twice this season.
Rifle Record: “Earlier this season we set the national record, and then someone broke the record and then we were lucky to reset it, so kind of a nice little feather I guess.”
UAF has a match against El Paso State at the Patty Center this weekend, while other teams across the country also pair off, matches that together serve as NCAA Championship qualifiers.
Rifle Qualify: “Kind of a complicated system, but basically, you take the score that you shoot this weekend, and then you add it to your season average, and the 8 top teams are invited to the national championship.”