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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, October 6
Murray, Ky.
9 AM
Ole Miss
vs
Jacksonville State
Rifle Begins Season with a Road Doubleheader
10/5/2023 | Rifle
Rebels Play Jacksonville State on October 6, Murray State on October 7
MURRAY, Ky. – Ole Miss rifle starts their 2023-24 campaign on the road for two matches in two days. The Rebels take on Jacksonville State on October 6 and Murray State on October 7. It begins a new era with Rachel Martin as head coach.
On the Line
The Rebels are coming off their third straight top-four placement at the NCAA Championships. On their way to fourth place, the team also finished second in smallbore for the first time in program history. Lea Horvath and Emma Pereira guided Ole Miss with their fifth and seventh-place finishes in smallbore. Ole Miss went 9-2 on the season and 5-2 in conference play.
It was a record-breaking year for the Rebels as a team and for individuals. The team posted a program-high match score of 4743 against Memphis. The Rebels were runner-ups at the GARC Championships for the program's highest placement ever. Individually, Horvath became the first woman in NCAA history to fire a perfect 600 in air rifle three times in a career. The senior also tied her own school record in smallbore of 594 and broke her match aggregate score of 1194.
Coach Rachel Martin
Jacksonville State
Ron Frost leads the Gamecocks in his 19th season at the helm. The roster consists of six returners and two freshmen. The biggest returner might be Clark McWhorter, who qualified as an individual in smallbore to the NCAA Championships. However, the team did lose the 2020 OVC Air Rifle Champion Michael Dietz.
Murray State
The Racers are led by Alan Lollar in his 18th season, taking over in 2007. The team returned 11 of 12 players from last season and added two freshmen. Matias Kiuru, Scott Patterson, and Paola Paravati averaged over 1170 aggregate and 590 in air rifle. Kiuru was the Racers' top-performing shooter in eight of their 14 matches. He also ended the year with career-highs in all three disciplines.
Series History
Ole Miss is 7-5 against Jacksonville State, currently on a four-match win streak. The Rebels last faced the Gamecocks in 2022, winning 4719-4674. Before last season's NCAA Qualifiers against Memphis, the Rebels and Jacksonville State matched up eight years straight for qualifiers.
The Rebels are down in the all-time series to Murray State with a 2-6 record. However, Ole Miss has defeated the Racers in the last two meetings.
CRCA Preseason Rankings
The Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association ranked Ole Miss as the fourth-best program in the nation in their preseason rankings. The Rebels finished last season fourth at the NCAA Championships. It marks the first-ever CRCA Preseason ranking.
West Virginia is the No. 1 team, with TCU and Kentucky at two and three, respectively.
Olympic Qualifiers
Three Rebels traveled to Fort Moore, Georgia, for the first trial to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Kristen Derting, Katelyn Foust, and Emma Pereira shot smallbore and air rifle at the qualifier.
Derting led the way for the Rebels in both disciplines, firing a 1243.4 in air rifle and 1145 in smallbore. Emma tied Kristen in smallbore, also shooting an 1145.
Rebs on Socials
For more information on Ole Miss rifle, follow the Rebels on Facebook (OleMissRifle), Twitter (@OleMissRifle), Instagram (@OleMissRifle) and at OleMissSports.com.
On the Line
- The Rebels' roster has seven returning players, including all five NCAA Championship counters
- The team also brought in four newcomers, three freshmen, and a transfer
- The 11-member roster is the largest since the 2020-21 season
- Ole Miss rifle begins its 28th season as a program
- New assistant coach Will Shaner won the gold medal for men's air rifle at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
- Ole Miss rifle is ranked No. 4, according to the CRCA Preseason Rankings
The Rebels are coming off their third straight top-four placement at the NCAA Championships. On their way to fourth place, the team also finished second in smallbore for the first time in program history. Lea Horvath and Emma Pereira guided Ole Miss with their fifth and seventh-place finishes in smallbore. Ole Miss went 9-2 on the season and 5-2 in conference play.
It was a record-breaking year for the Rebels as a team and for individuals. The team posted a program-high match score of 4743 against Memphis. The Rebels were runner-ups at the GARC Championships for the program's highest placement ever. Individually, Horvath became the first woman in NCAA history to fire a perfect 600 in air rifle three times in a career. The senior also tied her own school record in smallbore of 594 and broke her match aggregate score of 1194.
Coach Rachel Martin
- First season as the Rebels head coach, promoted after one season as assistant coach
- Two years of head coaching experience at Nebraska, guiding them to the NCAA Championships in both seasons
- Coached three All-Americans
- Former collegiate shooter with Nebraska from 2014-17
- NCAA Individual Smallbore Champion in 2015
Jacksonville State
Ron Frost leads the Gamecocks in his 19th season at the helm. The roster consists of six returners and two freshmen. The biggest returner might be Clark McWhorter, who qualified as an individual in smallbore to the NCAA Championships. However, the team did lose the 2020 OVC Air Rifle Champion Michael Dietz.
Murray State
The Racers are led by Alan Lollar in his 18th season, taking over in 2007. The team returned 11 of 12 players from last season and added two freshmen. Matias Kiuru, Scott Patterson, and Paola Paravati averaged over 1170 aggregate and 590 in air rifle. Kiuru was the Racers' top-performing shooter in eight of their 14 matches. He also ended the year with career-highs in all three disciplines.
Series History
Ole Miss is 7-5 against Jacksonville State, currently on a four-match win streak. The Rebels last faced the Gamecocks in 2022, winning 4719-4674. Before last season's NCAA Qualifiers against Memphis, the Rebels and Jacksonville State matched up eight years straight for qualifiers.
The Rebels are down in the all-time series to Murray State with a 2-6 record. However, Ole Miss has defeated the Racers in the last two meetings.
CRCA Preseason Rankings
The Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association ranked Ole Miss as the fourth-best program in the nation in their preseason rankings. The Rebels finished last season fourth at the NCAA Championships. It marks the first-ever CRCA Preseason ranking.
West Virginia is the No. 1 team, with TCU and Kentucky at two and three, respectively.
Olympic Qualifiers
Three Rebels traveled to Fort Moore, Georgia, for the first trial to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Kristen Derting, Katelyn Foust, and Emma Pereira shot smallbore and air rifle at the qualifier.
Derting led the way for the Rebels in both disciplines, firing a 1243.4 in air rifle and 1145 in smallbore. Emma tied Kristen in smallbore, also shooting an 1145.
Rebs on Socials
For more information on Ole Miss rifle, follow the Rebels on Facebook (OleMissRifle), Twitter (@OleMissRifle), Instagram (@OleMissRifle) and at OleMissSports.com.
Players Mentioned
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Audrey Gogniat Air Rifle Individual ChampionPodium
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HOT SHOTS: Jordan de Jesus and Drew Clinton
Wednesday, March 05