EL PASO, Texas - The Nanooks rifle team fired on all cylinders at their 2025 NCAA Qualifier at UTEP on Saturday, Feb. 22. The Nanooks posted a 4753-4691 win against the Miners.

How it Happened
The Nanooks had seven individual top-10 finishes, including the top-six positions. Cecelia Ossi took the top individual spot, firing an aggregate score of 1190. Lucie Kissenberger followed with an aggregate of 1188. Elli Spencer followed with an 1187, Sára Karasová took fourth with an 1185, and Amanda Pettersen rounded out the top-five with an aggregate of 1184. Rachael Charles also fired an aggregate score of 1184, taking sixth. Teagan Perkowski was the final individual top-10 finisher for the Nanooks, taking eighth with an aggregate of 1180. 

In the smallbore discipline, the Nanooks outshot the Miners 2368-2325 and took the top seven spots in the individual smallbore standings. Cecelia Ossi fired the high-score in smallbore, posting a 595. Amanda Pettersen fired a 592, good for second, and Lucie Kissenberger followed in third with a 591. Sára Karasová took fourth, shooting a 590. Rachael Charles, Elli Spencer, and Teagan Perkowski followed in fifth, sixth, and seventh with scores of 589, 587, and 586 respectively. Matthew Stout and Tobias Bernhoft-Osa rounded out the Nanooks smallbore outing with scores of 576 and 566, taking 13th and 15th. In air rifle, the Nanooks outshot UTEP 2385-2366.

Elli Spencer was the big winner in air as the sophomore fired her third-career 600 and second this season. Lucie Kissenberger was next for the Nanooks, taking third with a 597. Cecelia Ossi, Rachael Charles, and Sára Karasová all fired scores of 595, taking fourth, fifth, and sixth. Teagan Perkowski shot a 594, good for seventh, and Amanda Pettersen and Tobias Bernhoft-Osa took ninth and 10th with a 592 each. Matthew Stout added a 586, taking 12th.

Coaches Thoughts
"I'm thrilled with the team's performance today, particularly in smallbore. Cecelia [Ossi] anchored the crew in smallbore with another strong showing - she is such a tenacious trainer and she is getting to enjoy the rewards of that in the matches. Lucie [Kissenberger] and Amanda [Pettersen] were also brilliant today. They both overcame some major hurdles today. Amanda has battled hard to get confidence in standing and today it shown through. It was nice to see a big grin from her after standing. 

Once again, Elijah [Spencer] took the reins in air gun, posting another beautiful 600. Frankly, she shoots them in practice with some regularity as well - it is so impressive. I have really seen very few people ever shoot at that level. 

Overall it wasn't our strongest air showing or team showing, but it was one of our biggest learning days of the season. I think it left us with a great to-do list heading into the next couple weeks." 

What's to Come
The NCAA Rifle Championships Selection Show is on Monday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. AKST. The NCAA Rifle Championships are scheduled for March 14-15 in Lexington, Ky.

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