Full Results (PDF)

FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks rifle team grabbed second-place at the 2023 Patriot Rifle Conference Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska. The 'Nooks hosted the 2023 Championships, the first-time since the 2019 Championships and posted an aggregate score of 4749 for the second-place finish. They shot a 2384 air rifle team score on the final day. 

After posting a 2365 in the smallbore discipline on day one of the PRC Championships, the Nanooks used a 2384 in air to post a 4749 aggregate. They took second behind TCU, who posted a 4750 to grab the 2023 PRC Championship. TCU used a big day in air (2390) to grab the win. TCU's Julie Johannessen won the individual aggregate with an NCAA record 1198 using a 598 in smallbore and 600 in air to grab the individual title. Her teammate Katie Zaun followed in second with an aggregate of 1192 on a 593 in smallbore and 599 in air. The Nanooks were led by Rylan Kissell who took third in the individual top-10 with an aggregate score of 1191. He added a 598 air rifle score to his 593 in smallbore a day ago. Gavin Barnick followed in fourth-place, posting an 1187 aggregate behind a 590 smallbore and 597 in air. Rachael Charles and Peter Fiori were the final Nanooks in the top-10. Fiori took sixth with an aggregate of 1186 and Charles finished with an 1183 for a seventh-place finish.

Final PRC Championships Standings

1. TCU Horned Frogs | SB: 2360 | Air: 2390 | Aggregate: 4750
2. Alaska Nanooks | SB: 2365 | Air: 2384 | Aggregate: 4749
3. Nebraska Cornhuskers | SB: 2348 | Air: 2376 | Aggregate: 4724
4. Air Force Falcons | SB: 2333 | Air: 2375 | Aggregate: 4708
5. Ohio State Buckeyes | SB: 2339 | Air: 2355 | Aggregate: 4694
6. UTEP Miners | SB: 2265 | Air: 2302 | Aggregate: 4567

In the air rifle standings, Kissell led the way for the Nanooks with a score of 598. He took third in the air rifle standings. Gavin Barnick followed in fifth with a score of 597. Both Barnick and Kissell made it to the individual finals but did not medal. Peter Fiori was the final Nanook in the top-10 for air rifle, taking seventh with a score of 596. Kellen McAferty rounded out the counters for the 'Nooks with a 16th-place finish and score of 593. Tobias Bernhoft-Osa placed 20th with a 592, Charles took 21st with a 591, Sára Karasová took 23rd with a 589 and Marina Gonzalez-Mazo rounded out the 'Nooks shooters with a 588 and 28th-place finish. 

Day One Recap
Seven Nanooks shot on day one in smallbore. Gavin Barnick, Rachael Charles, Peter Fiori, Rylan Kissell and Kellen McAferty were the counters on day one. Kissell led the way with a 593 on the opening day of championships. Following him was Charles with a 592. Barnick and Fiori both fired a 590 and McAferty rounded out the squad individual totals with a 588. Marina Gonzalez-Mazo and Sára Karasová were the other two shooters for the 'Nooks and they both fired a 588. 
 
Kissell took second in the individual standings, trailing only Julie Johannessen of TCU who led the way with a 598. Charles took fourth, Barnick took fifth, Fiori took sixth and Gonzalez-Mazo finished in 10^th. Karasová took 11^th and McAferty took 12^th. 

The Nanooks now turn their eyes to the Feb. 18 NCAA Qualifier at UTEP before heading to the NCAA Rifle Championships on March 10-11 in Akron, Ohio.

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.