EL PASO, Texas – The Alaska Nanooks rifle team was in El Paso, Texas this morning on Feb. 22, 2020, participating in the NCAA Qualifiers at the University of Texas El Paso.

The 'Nooks at the end of the day were able to have all six shooter finish in the top-10 for aggregate scores. Kellen McAfterty led the way for Alaska, shooting a total of 1168 on the day. The only other shooter in the top five was Haley Castillo, after she shot an 1156. As for the team, the Nanooks shot a 4633 aggregate score with 2299 in the smallbore category and 2334 in the air rifle shoot.

Individually in the smallbore, McAferty led the way on the day, taking first place in the standings with an impressive 587, putting him in third place in the NCAA amongst NCAA Qualifying matches on the day. The next Nanook shooters on the list were Jessica Boyce and Amy Gentry, grabbing third and fourth, shooting scores of 576 and 572. Castillo checked in at sixth with a 570 before Cassidy Wilson and Grace Nelson rounded out the top-10, placing ninth and tenth, firing rounds of 564 and 560 respectively.

Alaska owned the middle portion of the air rifle shoot, claiming third through seventh and tenth place. Haley Castillo led the score card off for the 'Nooks, shooting a 586. Just behind her with a 585 was Boyce giving her an 1161 aggregate score for the day. Gentry followed up with a 582, ending the qualifier with an 1154 aggregate score. McAferty and Nelson rounded out the grouping of Nanooks with scores of 581 and 575. The final 'Nooks shooter, Cassidy Wilson grabbed a 10th place finish with a score of 571, giving her a total of 1135 on the day.

Head coach Layne Lewis had this to say about his team's performance and long road trip, "All six Nanooks were in the top-10 for the day. Kellen [McAferty] placed second, Jessica [Boyce] was third, Castillo was fifth, Gentry was sixth and Grace [Nelson] and Wilson tied for ninth. This match ends both a long road-trip and our regular season. We will continue training hard when we get back to Fairbanks as we wait for the results of the NCAA Championship Selection Show on Tuesday, Feb. 25."

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks rifle team, follow @NanooksRifle on Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Rifle team page on Facebook.