Huskers Down Buckeyes and Zips at NCAA Qualifiers

The No. 7 Nebraska Rifle team placed first out of three teams at its NCAA Qualifier match on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.
 
NU shot an aggregate score of 4,709, while No. 12 Ohio State shot a 4,702 and No. 10 Akron shot a 4,698.
 
Junior All-American Cecelia Ossi placed first overall with an aggregate score of 1,180. She was joined in the top 10 by freshmen Vittoria Watts (1,177, sixth), Emma Rhode (1,176, seventh), and junior Madelynn Erickson (1,175, eighth).  

"The team held it together in smallbore today, but air rifle was far lower than what we wanted," said Head Coach Mindy Miles. "We anticipate that we will qualify for the NCAA Championships, but we will know more when the selection show airs on Monday."
 
Ossi also earned a first-place finish in the air rifle with a 595. Watts was sixth with a 593. The Huskers totaled a score of 2,369 in the event.
 
Three Huskers placed in the top five in the smallbore event. Rhode earned a second-place finish with a score of 586. Erickson was fourth with a 585 while Ossi placed fifth with a 585. NU posted a 2,340 as a team.
 
Nebraska's score from today will combine with the three highest scores from the rest of the season to create their NCAA-qualifying score. The Huskers' three highest scores are 4,726 (at Alaska-Fairbanks, 11/13/22), 4,724 (at PRC Championships, 2/5/23) and 4,719 (at Morehead State, 1/14/23), and they combine for an average of 4,723.
 
The NCAA Championships will be held in Akron, Ohio, on March 10-11.
 

The NCAA Rifle Selection Show can be viewed at 2 p.m. (central) on ncaa.com on Monday, Feb. 20.