FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks rifle team opened 2024-25 with a victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes at TVSA in Fairbanks. 

"Today was a good start." said head coach Will Anti, "Really solid work in air gun. Fairly lackluster in slings, but nice standing to back it up."

In her first match with the Nanooks, Amanda Pettersen took the top spot in the individual standings, posting an 1187 aggregate score. She led the way and laid the foundation for the top-six spots going to Nanooks. "Amanda shot a phenomenal match. She had brilliant slings and she hung on in standing. That was a match personal record for her and she was very smart managing the nerves and excitement of the first collegiate match." added Anti. Behind in second was Sára Karasová with a season-opening 1185. Lucie Kissenberger also fired an 1185, taking third, another performance Coach Anti was proud of, "Lucie was also a highlight. She managed her nerves well and took control of both matches. Those were huge match performances for a freshman in their first match. Both her and Amanda should be really proud of today's efforts." Cecelia Ossi took fourth with an 1183, Rachael Charles took fifth with an 1182 and Elli Spencer took sixth with an 1182. Matthew Stout rounded out the top-10 with a 10th-place finish and 1169. 

In smallbore, the Nanooks posted a discipline win, outshooting OSU 2352-2337. Pettersen posted the top score in smallbore, firing a 591. Lillian Warren of Ohio State was second with a 589. The Nanooks took places three through seven in the smallbore standings with Karasová taking third with a 587. Ossi took fourth with another 587 and Kissenberger rounded out the top-five with another 587. Spencer took sixth with a 585 and Charles fired a 584, good for seventh. Stout took 11th with a 578, Teagan Perkowski posted a 576 (13th) and Tobias Bernhoft-Osa fired a 566. In air, the Nanooks posted a new program record with a 2390 performance. They bested Ohio State's 2364. 

Rachael Charles grabbed the top-spot in air with a 598. Kissenberger and Karasová followed in second and third, respectively, with the same score giving the Nanooks three 598's on the scorecard. Spencer followed in fourth with a 597, Pettersen posted a 596 and Ossi took sixth with a 596 of her own. Bernhoft-Osa took eighth with a 593, Stout took 10th with a 591 and Perkowski fired a 587. "Sára and Rachael stepped up to the plate in air. The senior leaders came through and understood the assignment. They shot really deep and their professionalism was top-notch. They weren't overall pleased with smallbore, but they were able to set that aside and perform in air." 

The Nanooks and Ohio State meet one more time tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. in the E.F. Horton Rifle Range. Anti looks forward to building off of today's victory, "Tomorrow we will look to build on this performance and improve specifically in the prone and kneeling. If we can hone in on those areas we will be in a great spot."

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