Husker Rifle Posts Solid Score at NCAA Qualifier

Murray, Ky. – While the Nebraska rifle team will have to wait another 24 hours before officially earning an NCAA berth, the sixth-ranked Huskers posted a team mark of 4,685 at the NCAA qualifier Monday afternoon.

The Huskers shot with Memphis during Monday's qualifier, falling to the eighth-ranked Tigers, 4,698-4,685 in the final round of the event.  While the Huskers' season-long performances played a major role in the Huskers potentially returning to the NCAAs for the second straight year.

Nebraska Coach Rachel Martin cited the performance of senior Emily Cheramie, who turned in another outstanding performance. The Georgetown, Ky., native shined on Monday, placing second in the smallbore with a career-best mark 590 while placing fourth in the air rifle with a score of 592. It marked the first time in her collegiate career that she scored 590 or better in both events.

"Emily being a top performer for both guns is a huge accomplishment with all the obstacles this pandemic has presented," Martin said. "She adds a lot to our team and has helped navigate her team to qualifying for NCAAs. Emily is also a great student and very involved in the community."
 
Freshman Cecelia Ossi (580) and All-American Elena Flake (580) took fifth and sixth, respectively, while Madelynn Erickson (575) rounded out the Huskers' scoring lineup in the event.
 
Erickson, one of two true freshmen in the Huskers' lineup, led NU in air rifle, placing second with a mark of 592, the seventh time in eight meets she scored above 590. Cheramie earned her second top-five finish of the day with a score of 591, while Ossi (589) and Flake (588) completed NU's scoring lineup.
 
Nebraska's performance on Monday may cause the Huskers to slip in seeding placement in the eight-team championship field.
 
"Today's performance was enough to get us into the NCAA Championships, which is no small accomplishment," Martin said. "However, it was not enough for us to maintain our sixth-place ranking. It was a bittersweet day. We are still lacking the drive I would like to see in our athletes, but their attention to detail and discipline was better today than it has been for the majority of this season."
 
The Huskers will have a quick turnaround, competing in the Great American Rifle Conference Championship this weekend. The event, which will take place virtually from home facilities, features the smallbore competition on Saturday and the air rifle event on Sunday.