Kayla Gadeken

Kayla Gadeken Photo Gallery

Honors & Awards

• Nebraska Heart & Soul Award (2020)
• CRCA Scholastic All-American (2020)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2018, 2019, 2020)
• Nebraska Bronze Academic Medallion (2020)
• Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2016, 2018, 2019; Spring 2018)
• Sam Foltz Hero 27 Leadership Award (2019)
• Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
• 2016 American Legion's Junior 3-Position Air Rifle National Championships Participant
• 2015 NRA National Championships (First, 3-P Air Rifle)
• 2015 Women's Air Rifle Junior Olympics (Second)
• 2015 CMP 3-Position National Championships (Second)

Senior Outlook (2019-20)
Kayla Gadeken finished 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. Gadeken competed in five matches in both smallbore and air rifle, posting season-best scores of 572 and 584, respectively. Off the range, Gadeken was a CRCA Scholastic All-American. She also earned a Nebraska Bronze Academic Medallion. Additionally, Gadeken earned the Nebraska Heart & Soul Award, was an Academic All-Big Ten pick and was named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall semester. In the community, she was named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team. 

Junior (2018-19)
Gadeken rose to be a major contributor for the Huskers in 2018-19 after an impressive sophomore season. Gadeken appeared fifteen times in smallbore and fourteen times in air rifle. She assembled an average of 571.67 in smallbore and 580.43 in air rifle over the course of the season.  Gadeken was also counted on for leadership off the range. She earned academic All-Big Ten honors and claimed prestigious Sam Foltz Hero 27 Leadership Award in 2019. She is a three-time member of both the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll and the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team.

Sophomore (2017-18)
Gadeken stepped into a leadership role in her sophomore season as Nebraska filled the gaps left by two graduating seniors.  She notched season-high scores of 581 in smallbore and 588 in air rifle and contributed to the Huskers' school-record sixth consecutive NCAA Championships appearance.  Gadeken impacted the team off the range as well by earning earning academic All-Big Ten honors and a spot on the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team.

Freshman (2016-17)
Gadeken competed in both smallbore and air rifle during 12 matches in 2016-17, including the GARC Championships.  Gadeken set personal records at the collegiate level, with a 578 in smallbore and a 591 in air rifle.  Gadeken also earned a spot on the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team and made the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall of 2016.

Before Nebraska
Gadeken competed for 10X 4-H Club under her father and coach, Gary Gadeken. She advanced to the 2016 American Legion Junior 3-Position Air Rifle National Championships. She earned a spot at the championships after placing in the top 15 of over 1,500 shooters and competed at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 19-23, where she finished eighth. At the 2015 NRA National Championships, Gadeken won the three-position air-rifle competition. She took second at the 2015 Women's Air Rifle Junior Olympics in the 15-17 age range and at the 2015 CMP 3-Position National Championships.

Personal 
The daughter of Gary and Amy Gadeken, Kayla was born Feb. 10, 1998. She has one sister, Amber. Gadeken attended Seward High School and is the first in-state recruit since Sheena Mahloch, who was a member of the Nebraska rifle team from 2008 to 2012. Kayla chose Nebraska over Morehead State and Murray State.

She is majoring in animal science and natural resources and earned academic All-Big Ten honors in 2018 and 2019. She is a three-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll selection. She is a three-time member of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team.

Career Bests
Smallbore - 581 (vs Kentucky, 11/18/17)
Air Rifle - 591 (vs. UTEP, 11/13/16)
 

Year	Event	Appearances	High Score	Average
2016-17	Smallbore	12	578	569.67
	Air Rifle	12	591	581.50
2017-18	Smallbore	13	581	573.29
	Air Rifle	14	588	581.47
2018-19	Smallbore	15	578	571.67
	Air Rifle	14	590	580.43
2019-20	Smallbore	5	572	565.00
	Air Rifle	5	584	576.80
Career	Smallbore	45	581	569.91
	Air Rifle	45	591	580.05