FAIRBANKS - #8 Ohio State comes to Fairbanks for a matchup with the Preseason #2-ranked Alaska Nanooks rifle team. They'll shoot twice, once at TVSA and the second day at the E.F. Horton Rifle Range in the Patty Center. 

Friday, Oct. 7
#8 Ohio State | Live Stats
Fairbanks, Alaska | 9:00 a.m. AKT | Tanana Valley Sportsmanship Association (TVSA)

Saturday, Oct. 8
#8 Ohio State | Live Stats
Fairbanks, Alaska | 8:00 a.m. AKT | E.F. Horton Rifle Range in the Patty Center

Last Time Out
The Nanooks are out for the first time since the 2022 NCAA Rifle Championships at the Air Force Academy on March 11-12, 2022. After one day of shooting smallbore, the Nanooks were sitting with a team score of 2351. They took second in both the smallbore discipline and air rifle discipline. On the final day, they shot a 2382 in air but took third as a team with an aggregate score of 4733. This was a return to the podium for the 'Nooks as they placed in the top-three for the first time since the 2015 NCAA Championships, hosted by Alaska. 

Preseason Polls
As of Sept. 28, 2022, the Nanooks sit in the #2-spot of the CRCA Top-20 Rankings. The top-five are as follows;

1. Texas Christian University
2. Alaska
3. Kentucky
4. Air Force
5. Ole Miss

Banner Unveil
The Nanooks rifle team unveiled their 2022 PRC Championship banner at the Sept. 24 volleyball game against Western Washington. The Nanooks celebrated their third conference championship and their first since the 2015 PRC Championship. 

Lapua Partnership
The Alaska Nanooks rifle team and Lapua Ammunition have partnered, making Lapua the official ammunition supplier of the 10x National Champion Alaska Nanooks rifle program. 

"We are honored to have Lapua joining us this season as the exclusive ammunition supplier of the University of Alaska Fairbanks rifle team." Said head coach Will Anti, "This is a big step in ensuring our student-athletes are always receiving the highest quality resources in the range."

The University of Alaska Fairbanks' Chancellor, Dr. Dan White, added his thoughts on the Nanooks rifle and Lapua partnership, "This is a great step for the Alaska Nanooks. Congratulations to coach Anti for bringing this important partnership to our current and future Nanook rifle teams."

Nammo Lapua is located in the town of Lapua, 80km east of Vaasa in Finland and have been one of the foremost suppliers of competition ammunition, "they've been used by many National and Olympic Champions over the years." Added Anti. Alongside the exclusivity of ammo used by the Alaska Nanooks rifle team, Lapua will have prominent signage at the E.F. Horton Rifle Range at the Patty Center.

Anti and the 'Nooks broke a handful of NCAA records during the 2021-22 season. He was grateful for the consistency of Lapua's ammunition throughout the year, especially during their highest moments of the previous season, "In the last several years they have undoubtedly produced the best and most consistent ammunition in the world. We had our most successful season of all-time in the smallbore discipline in 2021-22 and used Lapua's Midas+ in every competition. We trusted Lapua as we shot 3 National records throughout the course of the season to include a 2371 in smallbore vs. Navy which remains the highest score ever fired in the NCAA and the first time 4 members of a counting team shot above 590 in smallbore. These scores would be unimaginable without the unmatched precision of Lapua." 

"Our new partnership with Lapua is an exciting addition to the Nanook rifle program." Said Director of Athletics, Dr. Brock Anundson, "It provides our team with industry leading ammunition that will result in immediate points on the board. This partnership will continue to enhance Coach Anti's program and allow them to continue to compete for national championships."

Historic Season
The Nanooks had a historic 2021-22 season that included breaking their aggregate program record on four occasions, including national records twice. They broke the first national record on Nov. 14, 2021 with a 4749 before tying the next record on Feb. 6, 2022 at the PRC Championships with a 4752. On Nov. 14, 2021 at Navy, the Nanooks also set the national record for smallbore scoring with a 2371. This score was set with Sara Karasova's 596, Gavin Barnick's 593, Rylan Kissell's 592 and Kellen McAferty's 590. 

All-American's
The Nanooks earned 14 total All-American honors a year ago. Gavin Barnick was named a First-Team Smallbore All-American, Second-Team Aggregate All-American and an Honorable Mention Air Rifle All-American. Daniel Enger was named a First-Team Smallbore All-American and Honorable Mention Aggregate All-American, Sara Karasova was named First-Team Smallbore All-American, Second-Team Aggregate and Air Rifle All-American and was named the CRCA Rookie of the Year. Rylan Kissell was named a First-Team Aggregate, Air Rifle and Smallbore All-American and was named the CRCA Athlete of the Year. Finally, Kellen McAferty was named a First-Team Smallbore All-American and a Second-Team Aggregate and Air Rifle All-American. 

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