FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks rifle team had five student-athletes named to the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association's (CRCA) All-American teams for the 2024-25 season. Rachael Charles and Sára Karasová were named to the CRCA Aggregate Second Team, while Lucie Kissenberger, Amanda Pettersen and Elijah Spencer earned a spot on the Aggregate Third Team.
"These All-American Honors are really the culmination of a ton of work by this group of ladies," said head rifle coach Will Anti. "This is the hardest working crew we have ever coached, and it's no surprise that it's the largest All-American class we have had. I'm thrilled with this All-American class. They have so much to be proud of this season."
Karasová took CRCA First Team honors in both smallbore and air rifle while garnering Second Team in aggregate. This gives her four career Aggregate All-Americans and three Second Team selections. The senior from Šenov, Czech Republic, finished the season with an aggregate average of 1185.599, putting her second on the team and ninth in the country. She posted a 596.182 average in air and a 589.417 average in smallbore, both second on the team, while the latter ranked eighth in the nation. Karasová fired an aggregate score of 1180 or better in 11 matches this season while posting an 1190 or better twice during the season. She reached that mark on Feb. 6 vs. Ohio State when she fired an 1191 and on Feb. 8 at the PRC Championships when she posted a career-high 1192 to help the Nanooks claim their fourth PRC title. She posted a season-high smallbore score of 594 at the conference championships and tied her season-high in air rifle with a 598. She notched a 598 in air on five occasions during the season.
When discussing the honor, Anti emphasized Karasová's consistency throughout her collegiate career. "Sára has been named an All-American for the fourth consecutive year. It is the ultimate sign of consistency in our sport. Sára's never satisfied mentality has driven her for her entire career at UAF and she has raised the team's level every year. I'd classify Sára as Ms. Dependable. She has counted in nearly every match since she joined the team. It will be impossible to replace her output or intensity."
Charles earned CRCA First Team honors in smallbore and Second Team in air rifle and joined Karasová on the Aggregate Second Team. On the season, Charles fired an aggregate average of 1184.643, ranking third on the team and 10th in the nation. She posted an average of 588.643 in smallbore and 596 in air rifle. In 11 matches, she fired an aggregate score of 1180 or better. The Urbandale, Iowa native saved her best for last this season, firing a season-high aggregate score of 1191 at the NCAA Championships last weekend. Her smallbore score of 595 was also a season-high and she fired a 596 in air. She posted an air rifle score of 598 on three occasions, reaching that mark twice against Ohio State and once vs. Air Force. Charles concluded the season as the 2025 NCAA Rifle Championships Most Outstanding Performer.
"Rachael and Cecelia [Ossi] have been seemingly conjoined all season," said Anti, reflecting on the pair's leadership and performances this season. "They have pushed each other to new heights - and while Cecelia is not eligible to be awarded All-American status as a fifth year, it would be impossible not to mention her significant accomplishments this season. Rachael and Cecelia have really led the crew in enthusiasm. They have been unwavering and helped this team find its identity. That duo has produced practice and match scores that I didn't really know were possible."
Spencer garnered CRCA First-Team accolades in air rifle while earning a spot on the Aggregate Third Team. Her aggregate average of 1181.846 was fourth on the team and 17th in the nation. She posted a 584.538 smallbore average, and her 597.308 average in air rifle put her fourth in the NCAA. Spencer's season was highlighted by two perfect scores in air, firing a 600 vs. Air Force on Jan. 26 and at UTEP in the NCAA Qualifier on Feb. 22. She would also post a career-high smallbore score of 587 in both matches, giving her an aggregate score of 1187. She posted an aggregate score of 1180 or better 11 times during her sophomore season.
"Elijah turned in a stellar season marked by progress and perfection," stated Anti. "She grinded the whole season improving smallbore. In air gun she solidified herself as one of the premier air rifle shooters in the country. She fired multiple perfect scores and led the 'Nooks in air rifle for the entire season. Elijah will look to be one the leaders of the team next year as a Junior, and we are really looking forward to her stepping into that role."
Kissenberger was one of two Nanook freshmen named to the CRCA All-Conference teams. She earned Second Team in both air rifle and smallbore, taking a spot on the Aggregate Third Team. Her 1181.785 aggregate average put her right behind her teammate Spencer, ranking fifth on the team and 18th in the NCAA. Kissenberger fired an average of 595.071 in air rifle and 586.714 in smallbore on the season, ranking fifth and fourth on the team, respectively. Her smallbore average was also 16th-best in the country. The first-year Nanook from Neuves-Maisons, France, reached a season-high 1188 on two occasions; the first came in the first weekend of the season vs. Ohio State on Oct. 12, and the second happened in the NCAA Qualifier at UTEP on Feb. 22. She posted a season-high smallbore score of 591 in the match at UTEP, and recorded a 599 in air rifle on Jan. 18 in a match against Akron, Army and Ole Miss.
Pettersen joined Kissenberger on the Aggregate Third Team, earning Second Team honors in smallbore and an Honorable Mention in air rifle. She finished sixth on the team in aggregate average, posting a 1181.461 and ranking 20th in the nation. Her 586.615 smallbore average put her fifth on the team and 17th in the NCAA, and she fired an average air rifle score of 594.846. The freshman from Vesterøy, Norway, got off to a strong start at Alaska, firing a season-high aggregate score of 1190 on Oct. 12 vs. Ohio State. She posted a 592 smallbore score, a season-high for Pettersen, and the second time she would fire a 590+ in smallbore. She recorded a 591 the day before vs. OSU. She also tied a season-high in air rifle during the second match against the Buckeyes, firing a 598. Pettersen matched that score during the PRC Championships on Feb. 8.
"Lucie and Amanda have been named All-Americans in their freshman season. That's a rare feat to accomplish and puts you in a very small club," said Anti on the two first-year Nanooks. "They have battled this year. They've had big nerves, uncertainty at times, and just trials growing their confidence - through it all they have fought and worked really hard. I know they are disappointed in the end of the season result, but this award is confirmation that they are on the right track and the future is very bright for UAF."
The Nanooks concluded their season by placing third at the NCAA Rifle Championships last weekend. They finished first in smallbore, posting a 2355 on day one, but a 2371 air rifle score on day two saw them take third.
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