Huskers Take Sixth at NCAA Championships

The No. 7 Nebraska rifle team capped off an impressive weekend (and season) with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships on Saturday. 
 
The Huskers shot a team air rifle score of 2,366 at the James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio. That score, combined with their smallbore score from yesterday, totaled an aggregate score of 4,706. 
 
"I'm proud of the team," said Head Coach Mindy Miles. "We were very close to fifth and within grasp of fourth and third. It's anyone's game when it comes to the NCAA Championships. They worked hard all season and gave the match their all. I'm looking forward to further building the team next season."
 
Freshman Vittoria Watts led NU with a 594 to place 14th in the air rifle. Junior All-American and 2023 NCAA Smallbore champion Cecelia Ossi shot a 593 to finish 18th. Junior Madelynn Erickson shot a 590 in the first round of competition and placed 31st, while freshman Emma Rhode (589, 33rd) and sophomore Mackenzie Strauch (583, 45th) finished out the air rifle lineup for Nebraska.

"I couldn't be more proud of what this team has accomplished this year," said Assistant Coach JT Schnering. "They've broken every team record, broken or tied every individual record, and continued to push their own limits throughout the season. I'm excited to see what we can accomplish next season as a team."
 
Ossi earned a 1,183 aggregate score to top the Huskers. Watts had a 1,178, Erickson recorded a 1,175, Rhode posted a 1,170 and Strauch shot a 1,159 over the two days of competition.  
 

No. 2 Alaska-Fairbanks finished in first (4,729), while No. 1 TCU earned the silver medal with a 4,723. No. 5 Kentucky claimed bronze (4,713), and No. 6 Ole Miss (4,713, fourth) No. 2 West Virginia (4,708, fifth), No. 7 Nebraska (4,706, sixth), No. 8 Air Force (4,697, seventh) and No. 4 Murray State (4,688, eighth) rounded out the eight-team field.

NU's smallbore score from yesterday is the fourth-highest in program history. This season, the team has shot all five of the top-five aggregate scores in Nebraska rifle history, along with the top three smallbore and air rifle scores. Freshmen Emma Rhode and Vittoria Watts broke the Husker air rifle record -- both shot a 598 against Alaska-Fairbanks on Nov. 13. All five Huskers that comepted in the NCAA Championships earned personal-bests in all three disciplines (air rifle, smallbore and aggregate) this season.
 

Final Results- Teams

1st- Alaska Fairbanks, 4,729

2nd- TCU, 4,723

3rd- Kentucky, 4,713

4th- Ole Miss, 4,713

5th- West Virginia, 4,708

6th- Nebraska, 4,706

7th- Air Force, 4,697

8th- Murray State, 4,688

Final Results- Husker Individuals

Cecelia Ossi

Air Rifle- 593

Smallbore- 590

Aggregate- 1,183

Vittoria Watts

Air Rifle- 594

Smallbore- 584

Aggregate- 1,178

Madelynn Erickson

Air Rifle- 590

Smallbore- 585

Aggregate- 1,175

Emma Rhode

Air Rifle- 589

Smallbore- 581

Aggregate- 1,170

Mackenzie Strauch

Air Rifle- 583

Smallbore- 576

Aggregate- 1,159