Three Named All-Americans at NCAA Championships

Murray, Ky. ? Freshman Kristina Fehlings was named a first-team All-American in air rifle and sophomore Misty Chanek was named to the second-team in both smallbore and air rifle at the NCAA Rifle year-end banquet Saturday night.  Fehlings was also named to the third-team in smallbore, and senior Melissa Downsbrough made the third-team in both events.  The announcement brought some good news to a team otherwise disappointed with their weekend performance. 

Earlier in the day, the Huskers finished sixth overall in the team competition.  Chanek led the way for the Huskers in smallbore, firing an 1168.  Fehlings set the mark for the air rifle squad, firing a 390 and helping NU to a fifth-place finish in that event.

Nebraska Head Coach Launi Meili felt that while many on the team did not perform up to their expectations, the experience is something that the young team can build on heading into next season.

“Only one girl in each event really met the goals that they had set coming into the championships,” Coach Meili said.  “We still have a lot of work to do in terms of handling pressure situations, and that is something we will take into next year.”

Alaska-Fairbanks held up to their billing as the team to beat, winning its sixth straight NCAA rifle title by scoring a team aggregate of 6,273 out of a possible 6,400. Nevada placed second with an aggregate of 6,185, followed by Navy at 6,182, Army at 6,176, Xavier at 6,164, Nebraska at 6,147 and Tennessee Tech at 6,123.

In the individual championships on Friday, Sophomore Misty Chanek fired an 1164 in smallbore to finish in 10th place.  She also ended the day tied for 11th in air rifle, shooting a 389.  Freshman Kristina Fehlings, also competing in the air rifle individual championships, fired a 383 in finishing 20th.