The 2018-19 Nebraska rifle team wrapped up its fifth season under head coach Ashley McAllister and third-year assistant coach Rick Johnson. The season ended with Hannah Virga’s 23rd-place individual finish in the air rifle discipline at the NCAA Championships. Along the way the Huskers recorded one All-American, three All-Conference honorees, a team runner-up conference finish and several personal-best scores.
Samantha Peterson capped her junior season with second-team All-America honors from the NRA in smallbore. This marks the second time that Peterson has been named an All-American after earning Honorable Mention honors for smallbore in 2017. She led the team in smallbore this season with an average of 580.53 and shot her season high (584) four times (Kentucky, West Virginia, Akron, Navy). The achievement was one point short of her career best.
Nebraska rifle senior Hannah Virga competed on Mar. 10 at the 2019 National Collegiate Rifle Championships in Morgantown, W. Va. Virga, competing individually, fired 588 in the air rifle discipline to take 23rd place. Virga’s score initially landed her in a tie for 22nd with Barbara Schlaepfer of Murray State, but she eventually fell short by one point when the inner tens were totaled. Virga finished the 2018-19 season with an average air rifle score of 585.45.
Nebraska kicked off the season at home against defending NCAA Champion Kentucky on Oct. 6. The Huskers fell short, 4,635-4,686. Samantha Peterson led the team in smallbore with a score of 584 to propel the team to an overall score of 2,287. Mari Butler fired a career-high score of 564. A 590 score in air rifle from Kayla Gadeken boosted the team’s 2,366 air rifle score. Elizabeth Ewert notched 580 to set a new personal best.
The following weekend the Huskers journeyed to Fairbanks, Alaska to take on Ohio State on Oct. 13. Nebraska ultimately lost to the Buckeyes, 4,656-4,658. Emily Cheramie led the team in smallbore with 581, contributing to an overall team score of 2,301 in the discipline. Rachel Yager fired a career-high score of 580. Nebraska put up a fight in the second discipline, outscoring Ohio State 2,355-2,352. Peterson posted the highest score of either team with 590.
The following day on Oct. 14 the Huskers faced Alaska, dropping the match 4,662-4,693. Nebraska took three of the top five spots in air rifle, led by a career-high score of 581 from Bailey Powell. Big Red’s final team score was 2,307. Elizabeth Lorentz (career high) and Samantha Peterson both fired 590 to bring the team’s overall air rifle score to 2,355.
Nebraska traveled to Morgantown, W. Va. to face West Virginia on Oct. 21. West Virginia topped the Huskers, 4,660-4,712. Samantha Peterson’s mark of 584 paced NU in smallbore, contributing to an overall team score of 2,302. Peterson also led the way in air rifle with 592 to propel the Huskers to a final team score of 2,358.
On Nov. 3 the Huskers took the range in Akron, Ohio to face Akron and Morehead State. Emily Cheramie led Nebraska’s effort in smallbore (2,311) with a first-place score of 583. Elizabeth Lorentz was out front in air rifle with 590 to lead NU to a final team score of 2,343. Nebraska placed second overall with an aggregate score of 4,656. Akron took first with 4,660 and Morehead State finished third with 4,634.
The next day on Nov. 4 Nebraska faced Akron in the same location. Nebraska won the match, 4,666-4,636. Samantha Peterson and Emily Cheramie took the top two places overall in smallbore with 584 and 583, respectively. NU finished with a final team score of 2,316. Cheramie also led the team in air rifle, along with Elizabeth Lorentz. Both fired a score of 590 to bring the Huskers to a final team score of 2,350.
Nebraska traveled to Jacksonville, Ala. to compete in the Gamecock Open, hosted by JSU. Match action was open to other universities, junior shooters and members of the public. The Huskers produced their best aggregate score of the season (4,669). The season high was propelled by a smallbore team score of 2,317. Emily Cheramie was out front for NU with 582. Samantha Peterson fired a personal-best 594 in air rifle to drive Nebraska’s air rifle performance, resulting in an overall team score of 2,352.
Big Red kicked off 2019 with a trip to New York, facing Army on Jan. 12. The Huskers won, 4,660-4,652. Samantha Peterson led the team in smallbore with 581 to drive NU’s team score of 2,314. Peterson was out front again in air rifle with a mark of 589. The team finished with an overall score of 2,346 in the discipline.
The following day (Jan. 13), Nebraska competed in match action against Coast Guard, defeating the Bears 4,660-4,556. Emily Cheramie led the field with a score of 585 in smallbore, while Maddie Korthas fired a career-high 575. The Huskers finished with an overall team score of 2,213. Maddie Korthas led both teams in air rifle with a personal-best score of 592 to propel NU to a team score of 2,347.
The Huskers competed at home the following week on Jan. 18 against Navy, defeating the Midshipmen 4,652-4,650. Samantha Peterson had the highest smallbore score on either team with 584. She helped Nebraska to a team score of 2,309. Peterson also led NU in air rifle with 590. The Huskers assembled a team score of 2,343.
Two days later on Jan. 20 Nebraska competed at home again on Senior Day against NC State. The Huskers overcame the Wolfpack 4,627-4,606. Emily Cheramie led the team in smallbore with a mark of 575 to contribute to NU’s team score of 2,288. Cheramie also led the field in air rifle with 590 to drive the Huskers to a team score of 2,339.
Nebraska traveled to Oxford, Miss. on Feb. 2 to compete against Ole Miss, falling short 4,651-4,665. Emily Cheramie was out front for the Huskers in smallbore with a mark of 582, contributing to an overall team score of 2,308. Bailey Powell led NU in air rifle with 590 to propel the team to an overall score of 2,343.
The Huskers journeyed to Memphis, Tenn. to compete against Memphis the following day (Feb. 3). Nebraska could not hang on in a close match, falling short 4,660-4,661. Samantha Peterson led the team in smallbore with 583 to contribute to an overall score of 2,313. Emily Cheramie notched a personal-best score of 593 in air rifle to drive NU’s team score of 2,347.
Two weeks later Nebraska traveled to Murray, Ky. to compete in its NCAA Qualifier match against Murray State. The Huskers fell short, 4,661-4,671. Emily Cheramie led the team in smallbore with a mark of 583 to contribute to a season-high team score of 2,322. Nina Radulovic (582) and Hannah Virga (580) both recorded season highs. Virga recorded another personal season high in air rifle, adding 593 to NU’s overall team score of 2,339.
The Huskers finished second out of nine teams at the Great American Rifle Conference Championships in Akron, Ohio after assembling an aggregate score of 4,666. Emily Cheramie was out front for NU in smallbore after tying her own personal best score of 585. She helped the team to a total score of 2,319 in the discipline. Cheramie also led the squadded team members in air rifle with 589, contributing to an overall team score of 2,347. Elena Flake, competing individually, recorded a personal-best score of 591. Nebraska finished behind West Virginia (4,715). The Championships were held Feb. 22-23 and included an awards banquet on Feb. 21. Emily Cheramie earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors in smallbore and in combined guns. Samantha Peterson was named First Team All-Conference in smallbore and Second Team All-Conference in combined guns. Rachel Yager was named Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year.