Samantha Peterson

Samantha Peterson Photo Gallery

Honors & Awards

• CRCA Scholastic All-American (2020)
• NRA All-American (HM, Smallbore, 2017)
• NRA All-American (Second Team, Smallbore, 2019)
• GARC All-Conference (First Team, Smallbore, 2019)
• GARC All-Conference (Second Team, Combined Guns, 2019)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2018, 2019, 2020)
• Nebraska Silver Academic Medallion (2020)
• Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019; Spring 2017, 2018, 2019)
• Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
• 2016 American Legion's Junior 3-Position Air Rifle National Championships Participant
• 2015 CMP National Championships (First, 3-P Air Rifle)
• 2013 Junior Olympics (Third, Air Rifle)
• 2012 Junior Olympics (Second, Smallbore)

Senior (2019-20)
A two-time All-American, Samantha Peterson capped her Husker career by helping the Huskers to a record-breaking season in 2019-20. As a team at the NCAA Qualifiers, the Husker set the school record for highest overall score (4,707) and posted the second-highest air rifle score (2,373). While the team qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2018, the event was canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Peterson competed 12 times in both smallbore and air rifle. She posted season-high scores of 577 and 589. Off the range, Peterson was a CRCA Scholastic All-American and earned a Nebraska Silver Academic Medallion. She also was named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall and was a member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team. She also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the third consecutive year.

Junior (2018-19)
The only returning All-American on Nebraska's roster, Peterson was counted on for leadership on and off the range. Peterson recorded a personal best in air rifle (594) at the Gamecock Open and recorded five scores that were 590 or greater. She was named an All-American (Second Team, Smallbore) for the second time in her collegiate career, as well as GARC All-Conference (First Team, Smallbore; Second Team, Combined Guns). 

Peterson was also a leader in the classroom as a six-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. She is also a three-time Tom Osborne Citizenship Team selection. 

Sophomore (2017-18)
As one of two returning All-Americans on the roster, Peterson took on a leadership role both on and off the range as a sophomore. Peterson averaged 577.60 in smallbore and 587.87 in air rifle. Peterson, who helped fill the void left by departed All-Americans Jaycee Carter and Rachel Martin, was a key part of Nebraska’s school-record sixth consecutive NCAA Championships appearance in 2018. She earned academic All-Big Ten honors and was a member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team.

Freshman (2016-17)
Peterson made an immediate impact in her first season at Nebraska, competing in every match and emerging as one of the Huskers' top shooters. She set personal records at the collegiate level by firing a 585 in smallbore and a 593 in air rifle. She earned All-America honors from the NRA for her success on the range. Peterson also earned a spot on the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team and made the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in both semesters of 2016-17.

Before Nebraska
Peterson competed for the Minnesota Centershots under coaches Pete Durben, Steve Powell and Liz Powell. Peterson advanced to the 2016 American Legion Junior 3-Position Air Rifle National Championships. She competed against 1,500 individuals and was one of the top 15 finalists. She competed at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 19-23 in the finals and finished fourth.

Peterson placed third in the USA Shooting 3-Position Air Rifle National Championship and placed second in the CMP 3-Position Air Rifle Championships in July 2016. Her team, the Minnesota Centershots, placed second at the 2016 CMP Championships and placed first at the 2016 USA Shooting Championships.

Peterson took first place at the 2015 CMP National Championships in three-position air rifle. She also claimed the silver medal in smallbore at the 2012 Junior Olympics and the bronze medal in air rifle at the 2013 Junior Olympics.

Personal
The daughter of Robert and Theresa Peterson, Samantha (Sammy) was born on May 26. The Ham Lake, Minn., native attended Blaine High School. Peterson has one brother, Derek.

Double majoring in sociology and criminology, she earned academic All-Big Ten honors in 2018 and 2019. She is a six-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll selection and a three-time member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team. She chose NU over Alaska-Fairbanks.

When not on the rifle range, Peterson enjoys fishing, hunting and horseback riding.

Peterson on Nebraska
"I chose Nebraska because the resources, academics, support and team were exactly what I was looking for."

Career Bests
Smallbore - 585 (at NCAA Qualifiers, 2/19/17)
Air Rifle - 594 (at Gamecock Open, 11/10/18)

Year	Event	Appearances	High Score	Average
2016-17	Smallbore	15	585	578.27
	Air Rifle	15	593	586.73
2017-18	Smallbore	15	584	577.60
	Air Rifle	15	591	586.87
2018-19	Smallbore	15	584	580.53
	Air Rifle	15	594	586.80
2019-20	Smallbore	12	577	570.33
	Air Rifle	12	589	585.08
Career	Smallbore	57	585	576.68
	Air Rifle	57	594	586.37