FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks rifle team will host the UTEP Miners for the 2022 NCAA Rifle Qualifier on Saturday, Feb. 19. The 'Nooks and Miners will shoot in the E.F. Horton Rifle Range in the Patty Center.
 
Saturday, Feb. 19 vs. UTEP
Live Video >> https://bit.ly/3sGiHw2
Live Stats >> https://results.megalink.no/#!/
E.F. Horton Rifle Range, 8:00 a.m., Fairbanks
 
Last Time Out
2/6/22 - The Alaska Nanooks rifle team is returning home as the 2021-22 PRC Champions. They completed the weekend with a new program-record aggregate score of 4752. With that score, they also tied the current NCAA aggregate record, shot twice this season, once by TCU and once by Kentucky.

"Today, simply put, was outstanding." exclaimed head coach Will Anti, "The team was in the unique spot of sleeping on a lead and they came out today and performed extremely well. We've chatted a lot about the scenario and they carried out the mission. To hold a piece of the national record again is a great privilege. The entire team holds a piece of that record - they really operated as a succinct unit all weekend and fed off each other."  

On top of the team and national records, the Nanooks had a stellar individual weekend. Rylan Kissell fired off his second 600 in air rifle this weekend, becoming the first shooter since Nicco Campriani in 2011 to shoot multiple 600's in a single-season. Alongside Kissell, Kellen McAferty grabbed both individual titles in air and smallbore. Kissell took home the bronze in smallbore and silver in air rifle. Finally, five Nanooks are coming home with PRC All-Conference honors. Gavin Barnick, Sara Karasova, Rylan Kissell and Kellen McAferty were all named All-Conference selections in both air and three-point smallbore. Daniel Enger was the fifth Nanook to earn All-Conference honors, being named in the three-point smallbore discipline. 

Aggregate Team Scores/Finishes

1. Alaska - 4752
2. TCU - 4726
3. Ohio State - 4694
4. Air Force - 4689
5. Nebraska - 4670
6. UTEP - 4553

In the individual standings, the Nanooks took the top-three and top-four of five. To lead the way was Rylan Kissell. He shot an aggregate-score of 1190 (SB: 590 Air: 600) while Gavin Barnick followed in second and Kellen McAferty followed in third. Barnick shot an 1189 with a smallbore score of 592 and air score of 597, a new personal-best. McAferty took third with an 1189 of his own. He shot a smallbore score of 593 and air score of 596. 
 

2022 Patriot Rifle Conference Champions with a record breaking weekend?

-new program aggregate record
-tied NCAA aggregate record
-new air rifle program record
-2nd perfect 600 air rifle from Rylan Kissell
-5 Nanooks earning All-Conference awards #NanookNation #RuletheNorth pic.twitter.com/71AsMXMDbm

— Alaska Rifle (@NanooksRifle) February 7, 2022

 
Quick Hitters

• The Alaska Nanooks have an aggregate average of 4735.833 on the season. 
• In smallbore, the Nanooks lead the nation in the season-average with a score of 2357.75. They currently sit in third in the nation in air rifle average with a 2378.083. 
• The Nanooks have four in the top-10 individual averages. The only school with more than three.
• Rylan Kissell leads the nation in aggregate average, posting an 1188. He has an average of 591.25, the highest in the nation and 596.75, tied for fourth in the nation. 
• Sara Karasova, Kellen McAferty and Gavin Barnick hold the 6-8 spots in the nation's aggregate average. 
• The Nanooks victory at the PRC Championships was their first since the 2014-15 season when they posted a winning score of 4680. 
• This will be the fourth-consecutive year shooting against UTEP in the NCAA Qualifier. The last time came in the 2017-18 season when the Nanooks welcomed Alabama Birmingham. 

 
CRCA Rankings (2/15/22)

1. Alaska
2. Kentucky
3. TCU
4. West Virginia
5. Ole Miss
6. Murray State
7. Air Force
8. Navy
9. Akron
10. Ohio State
11. Nebraska
12. Morehead St. 
13. Jacksonville St.
14. Army
15. North Carolina St. 
16. Memphis
17. North Georgia
18. Ga. Southern
19. Citadel
20. UT Martin

 
What's Next?
Following the NCAA Qualifier this weekend, the Nanooks will await the results from the NCAA Rifle Selection Show. The NCAA Rifle Championships will be hosted at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. on March 11-12.
 
Senior Celebration
The Nanooks will be remembering three seniors on Senior Day this weekend. Jessica Boyce, Daniel Enger and Andrew Pham will shoot their final home-match at the E.F. Horton Rifle Range. 
 
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.