MacAllister Adds Two Shooters to NU Rifle Team

Nebraska Head Coach Ashley MacAllister announced the addition of two future Huskers on Monday. Mari Butler (Casselton, N.D.) and Elizabeth Ewert (Burnsville, Minn.) signed with the Nebraska rifle team and will join the Huskers in 2017-18.

"We are so excited to welcome Mari and Elizabeth to the Husker family," MacAllister said. "We are excited to bring their drive and competitiveness to the team. They both have a great track record of competing at a high level, both in the range, in the classroom and in the community. They encompass everything we value here at Nebraska and we expect them to be strong student-athletes during their time at the university."

Mari Butler is a member of the Buffalo Sharpshooters, under the direction of Coach Dan Geurts. Butler’s former club teammate is current Husker and All-American Dacotah Faught. She also has close ties with former Husker Kelsey Hansen. The Casselton, N.D., native attends Central Cass High School where she is a member of the Honor Roll, National Honor Society and Student Council. Butler also runs cross country and is a statistician for the volleyball, girls’ basketball, softball and wrestling teams. 

In her free time, Butler enjoys watching historical and scientific documentaries, reading books and writing short stories.

Mari was born on April 17, 1999 in Fargo, N.D. She is the daughter of Richard and Carrie Butler and has one brother, Soren. At Nebraska, she intends to major in biology or pre-physical therapy.

Butler on Nebraska: “When I was a kid and saw another girl (Kelsey Hansen) from my state go to Nebraska to shoot, I knew this was where I wanted to go. I think that my opportunities at Nebraska are endless, and I am very excited to spend the next four years furthering my education and contributing my skills to the rifle team.”

Elizabeth Ewert competes with the Minnesota Centershots, the same club team that current Husker Samantha Peterson competed for. Ewert is coached by Liz Powell, Steve Powell and Pete Durben.

Ewert has qualified for the National Junior Olympic Qualifiers in Colorado Springs, Colo., for five consecutive years and was one of 15 individuals to qualify for the 2016 American Legion Junior 3-Position Air Rifle Championships, where she finished 11th. Her team placed first at the 2016 US Army Air Rifle National Championships and the 2016 USA Shooting 3-Position Air Rifle Junior Olympics. She was also a member of the team that finished second at the 2016 CMP 3-Position Air Rifle National Championships. Individually, Ewert was selected for the International Randle Team in Bristol, Ind., in 2016. In 2013, she also placed first in her age group at the National Junior Olympics and the Winter Air Gun Championships. That same year, Ewert achieved the Air Rifle Distinguished Badge.

The Burnsville, Minn., native attends Lakeville South High School, where she is part of the National Honor Society and Student Council. Ewert also received the Rotary Student of the Month Award in September 2016, the South Suburban Conference Scholar Award and three Academic Excellence Awards. Ewert was a member of the volleyball team for two years. In ninth grade, her club volleyball team (Northern Lights) placed fifth at nationals.

In her free time, Ewert enjoys playing sand volleyball, water tubing and running.

Elizabeth is the daughter of Ross Ewert and Joy Simonsen and was born on Feb. 9, 1999 in St. Paul, Minn. She has one older brother, Sam, and one younger sister, Sarah. She plans on majoring in biochemistry, with the intent to go to medical school. Elizabeth chose Nebraska over TCU.

Ewert on Nebraska: “I saw Nebraska as the perfect fit for me because of the great pre-med program, the amazing rifle team and the strong community connection.”