LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Alaska Nanooks placed third and earned the bronze medal trophy on Saturday, March 15. The Nanooks fired a 2371 in air rifle, finishing with an aggregate score of 4726, good for a trip to the podium for a fourth-straight year. This is their fifth third-place finish in program history and 23rd podium finish in 38 trips to the NCAA Championships. 

Final Aggregate Standings

1. West Virginia - 4738, 355x
2. Kentucky - 4737, 333x
3. Alaska - 4726, 338x
4. Ole Miss - 4716, 331x
5. Georgia Southern - 4713, 302x
6. TCU - 4712, 309x
7. Air Force - 4703, 315x
8. Murray State - 4693, 298x

Overall Team Results (PDF)
Air Rifle Team Results (PDF)
Individual Air Rifle Results (PDF)

How it Happened
Alaska had four shooters score on Saturday; they were led by Rachael Charles, once again, this time with a 596-54x. Charles capped off her weekend performance at the NCAA Rifle Championships with an 1191 aggregate score, earning the NCAA Rifle Championship Most Outstanding Performer honor for the highest aggregate score this week. She took 12th in the individual air rifle standings. Behind Charles was Amanda Pettersen, who finished with a 593-48x; this score was good for 27th in the air rifle standings and gave Pettersen an aggregate score of 1174. Third was Lucie Kissenberger, firing a 591-45x, good for 34th in the air rifle standings. This gave her an aggregate score of 1173 at Championships. 

Finally for Alaska in air rifle, was Cecelia Ossi. She shot a 591-44x, good 35th in the individual air rifle standings and good for an 1184 aggregate score, giving her a 10th-place finish in the overall individual standings, the Nanooks second top-10 to go with Charles' first place finish. 

Air Rifle Standings

1. West Virginia - 2388, 210x
2. Ole Miss - 2383, 207x
3. Kentucky - 2383, 198x
4. Air Force - 2382, 198x
5. Georgia Southern - 2380, 189x
6. TCU - 2377, 183x
7. Alaska - 2371, 191x
8. Murray State - 2371, 187x

Smallbore Standings

1. Alaska - 2355, 147x
2. Kentucky - 2354, 135x
3. West Virginia - 2350, 145x
4. TCU - 2335, 126x
5. Ole Miss - 2333, 124x
6. Georgia Southern - 2333, 113x
7. Murray State - 2322, 111x
8. Air Force - 2321, 117x

Alaska claimed the smallbore team national championship trophy on Friday with a 2355 performance, edging out Kentucky by one point for first, and West Virginia by five points. Read more about Friday's performance HERE.

Coaches Thoughts
"Frankly, today was not our day. We struggled to get into a rhythm in both relays. It's a rare day that we can't get things sorted during sighters or the early stages of the match, but we struggled today. The team fought hard though and gave it a great effort. We didn't leave anything in the tank this season. I've never seen work like I've seen it this year. I selfishly wanted the win for the team but life doesn't always work like that. Today was a good reminder that sport emulates life - sometimes you can leave no stone unturned and get beat. And in those moments, all you can do is tip your hat to the winners. A huge congrats to our three seniors. They have been the heart and soul of this team. They have created a culture that will stand beyond their graduation. Rachael [Charles] capped her amazing career with the Shooter of the Championship honor. Rachael has had a long journey with the 'Nooks and this is the most appropriate ending imaginable. I'm so grateful to these nine student-athletes for their energy and fight this year."

Follow the 'Nooks
IG - @NanooksRifle
X - @NanooksRifle
FB - Alaska Nanooks Rifle