The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rifle Qualifies For NCAA Championship Match
2/23/2021 | Rifle
Rebels Earn Spot in Championship for First Time in 15 Years
OXFORD, Miss. – For the first time in 15 years, the Ole Miss rifle team has qualified for the NCAA Rifle Championships, earning the No. 2 seed. It last competed at the championship event in 2006, finishing sixth overall.
"This team is a very special group," said head coach Marsha Beasley. "They've brought a consistent, focused effort to the range every day the entire year. Everyone has put in the work and been resilient in adapting to the changes and challenges of the pandemic. I am so proud of them, and I know they will continue to do what they need to in order to perform well in the GARC Championships and at NCAAs."
Ole Miss earned its spot in the 2021 Championship after firing a score of 4721 in its qualifier match and claiming a share of the GARC regular season title last weekend. A serious contender, the Rebels have their sights set on capping off their season with a national title on March 12-13 in Converse Hall on the Ohio State campus in Columbus, Ohio.
The Rebels completely rewrote the record books this season, setting program records in aggregate team score (4734), air rifle team score (2383) and a smallbore team score of 2361 that also was an NCAA Record. As a team, Ole Miss fired three of the top 11 aggregate scores this season and eclipsed the 4700 mark eight times. Its average aggregate score of 4709.6 was a 40.9-point improvement from last season's average (4668.7).
Freshman Lea Horvath has paced the team this season. She ranks third in the nation with an 1187.4 average. Kristen Derting also sits inside the top 10 with an 1178.7 average. Juniors Erin Walsh and Jillian Zakrzeski also had solid seasons. The duo ranks in the top 25 individuals in the nation. Abby Buesseler rounds out the Rebels counters. The Minnesota product and 2020 All-American qualified as an individual for the NCAA Rifle Championship last season in smallbore but was unable to compete when the championship event was canceled.
Ole Miss begins postseason action this weekend with the virtual GARC Championship match and then will have a two week break from competition before NCAAs.
The full field of eight is listed below.
1. Kentucky
2. Ole Miss
3. TCU
4. West Virginia
5. Alaska Fairbanks
6. Memphis
7. Nebraska
8. Air Force
For more information on Ole Miss rifle, follow the Rebels on Facebook (OleMissRifle), Twitter (@OleMissRifle), Instagram (@OleMissRifle) and at OleMissSports.com.
"This team is a very special group," said head coach Marsha Beasley. "They've brought a consistent, focused effort to the range every day the entire year. Everyone has put in the work and been resilient in adapting to the changes and challenges of the pandemic. I am so proud of them, and I know they will continue to do what they need to in order to perform well in the GARC Championships and at NCAAs."
Ole Miss earned its spot in the 2021 Championship after firing a score of 4721 in its qualifier match and claiming a share of the GARC regular season title last weekend. A serious contender, the Rebels have their sights set on capping off their season with a national title on March 12-13 in Converse Hall on the Ohio State campus in Columbus, Ohio.
The Rebels completely rewrote the record books this season, setting program records in aggregate team score (4734), air rifle team score (2383) and a smallbore team score of 2361 that also was an NCAA Record. As a team, Ole Miss fired three of the top 11 aggregate scores this season and eclipsed the 4700 mark eight times. Its average aggregate score of 4709.6 was a 40.9-point improvement from last season's average (4668.7).
Freshman Lea Horvath has paced the team this season. She ranks third in the nation with an 1187.4 average. Kristen Derting also sits inside the top 10 with an 1178.7 average. Juniors Erin Walsh and Jillian Zakrzeski also had solid seasons. The duo ranks in the top 25 individuals in the nation. Abby Buesseler rounds out the Rebels counters. The Minnesota product and 2020 All-American qualified as an individual for the NCAA Rifle Championship last season in smallbore but was unable to compete when the championship event was canceled.
Ole Miss begins postseason action this weekend with the virtual GARC Championship match and then will have a two week break from competition before NCAAs.
The full field of eight is listed below.
1. Kentucky
2. Ole Miss
3. TCU
4. West Virginia
5. Alaska Fairbanks
6. Memphis
7. Nebraska
8. Air Force
For more information on Ole Miss rifle, follow the Rebels on Facebook (OleMissRifle), Twitter (@OleMissRifle), Instagram (@OleMissRifle) and at OleMissSports.com.
Players Mentioned
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
/ Rifle
Monday, February 23
Tuesday, October 21
Thursday, March 20
Saturday, March 15