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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Saturday, February 25
Morgantown, W.Va.
8 AM
Ole Miss
at
GARC Championships
Rifle Set for GARC Championships
2/24/2023 | Rifle
Rebels Start Postseason Play at Conference Championships
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. -- Ole Miss rifle heads to Morgantown, West Virginia to compete in the GARC Championships for two days, starting on Saturday, Feb. 25. The Rebels finished the season with a 5-2 conference record.
On the Line
OXFORD, Miss – Ole Miss rifle shoots a strong 4724 during NCAA Qualifiers on Saturday. The Rebels also honored senior Claire O'Neel following the match.
The eight teams that will advance to the NCAA Rifle Championships in March are decided this weekend. Selections are determined by the three-score average and the score fired in the team's qualifier match. Ole Miss (9-2, 5-2 GARC) hopes to have solidified its spot with a 9456 average total. The field of eight will be revealed Monday, February 20, at 2 p.m. CT by the NCAA.
Rebels finished with four of the top five shooters of the match. Kristen Derting was on top of her game, getting top marks in both disciplines. The Oregon native had the top score of 1188. Of course, right behind her was Lea Horvath with a 1186 aggregate score. In third place, Martina Gratz had the best match of her career, ending with a 1183 combined score. Then rounding out the top five was Emma Pereira. The freshman shot a 1174 for the match.
In smallbore, Derting and Horvath got it started by both shooting a 591. Gratz had the third best smallbore score with a career-high 586. The Rebels outshot the Tigers in smallbore, 2341-2320.
It was a tight race in air rifle as Ole Miss edged Memphis (4-8, 2-6 GARC), 2383-2381. The Rebels placed the top two in air rife after both Derting and Gratz hitting a 597. That score surpassed Gratz's previous career-high in air rifle. Horvath finished fifth, shooting a 595.
The Tigers scored a 4701 for their NCAA qualifying score. Memphis fell behind with a 2320 smallbore score. The Tigers turned it around with a 2381 air rifle score but it was not enough. Gabriela Zych finished fourth overall with a 1181 aggregate score. Zych shot a 585 in smallbore and a 596 in air rifel, which were fourth-best in both disciplines.
Ole Miss travels to Morgantown, West Virginia, starting on February 25 for the GARC Championships.
Coach Marsha Beasley
West Virginia
Led by Head Coach Jon Hammond since 2006, the Mountaineers have been in the national spotlight. West Virginia once again will once again compete in the NCAA Rifle National Championships as the No. 2 seed after going 16-4 overall and 8-1 in the conference. The team shot a 4741 in their NCAA qualifier and finished 9.34 points below the No. 1 seeded TCU.
West Virginia averages an aggregate score of 4732.286, which is third in the nation. The Mountaineers have yet to shoot under a 4712 all season long. They are led by one of the best shooters in the nation, Mary Tucker. The senior averages a nation-best 1190.6 aggregate score along with averaging 598.3 in air rifle (2nd) and 593.4 in smallbore (2nd). Tucker is the reigning CRCA Most Valuable Shooter of the Year and NCAA Overall Individual National Champions. The Mountaineers number two is Malori Brown who averages 1179.5 aggregate.
Kentucky
The Wildcats are coached by four-time GARC Coach of the Year Harry Mullins in his 36th season. Kentucky came into the season as the defending national champions and have won three of the last four NCAA Championships (2018, 2021, 2022). Kentucky was also the number one seed in 2020 when the championships were cancelled. The Wildcats are eyeing their fourth in five years after earning the fifth seed into the tournament this season. Kentucky shot a 4716 in their National Qualifier match and finished with .67 above the Rebels. The Wildcats also claimed the GARC regular season title.
As a team, Kentucky averages an aggregate score of 4720.6 per match, which is fourth in the nation. The Wildcats are led by freshman Sofia Ceccarello joins the Wildcats after being part of the Italy team in the Tokyo Olympics, who made the finals. Ceccarello is averaging 1187.5 aggregate score, which is fourth in the nation. She also averages 598.2 in air rifle (3rd) and 589.3 in smallbore (6th). Ceccarello is joined by fellow fifth-year senior and CRCA Smallbore, Air Rifle, and Aggregate All-American, Richard Clark. He averages the second highest aggregate score on the team of 1181.0. Can't forget about their fifth-year senior Will Shaner, who won the NCAA smallbore national championship last year and is an Olympic Gold Medalist in air rifle.
Two other members of the UK's national championship lineup also returned in senior Jaden Thompson and sophomore Allison Buesseler.
Memphis
The Tigers, coached by Morgan Phillips in her first season, are 4-8 overall and finished 2-5 in the conference. Memphis fired their top score of the season against Ole Miss to end the regular season with a 4721 then back it up with a 4701 in its NCAA Qualifier match. Unfortunately, the Tigers missed the NCAA Rifle Championship by 14 points to place 10th.
The team averages an aggregate score of 4684.6 per match. They are led by senior Angeline Henry in both smallbore and air rifle. Henry averages a smallbore score of 583.2 and an air rifle score of 594.2 for a total of 1177.3. Freshman Gabriela Zych is making a huge impact in the lineup as well. Zych is the other player on the roster averaging over 590 in air rifle along with an average score of 580.3 in smallbore. Henry and Zych qualified as individual to the NCAA Championships in air rifle. Memphis' Sophie Cruz and Jack Kersey are air rifle alternates.
Navy
The Midshipmen are coached by former Olympian Mike Anti in his sixth season. Navy is coming off one of the best seasons in program history, breaking program records in each of the three scoring categories along with setting a new program-best team averages in each of the three disciplines. Navy just missed NCAA National Championships by 12 points after going 11-7 overall and 3-5 in the conference.
As a team, Navy averages an aggregate score of 4696.0 per match, which is ninth in the nation. Sophomore Marleigh Duncan excelled once again after a record-breaking freshman campaign. Duncan won individual smallbore conference title last season, becoming the first student-athlete in program history to win a GARC Championship individual title. She also holds the school records in aggregate match score and individual smallbore scoring at 592. Duncan averages a 1179.3 aggregate, a 592.9 in air rifle and a 586.4 in smallbore. Parker Haydin leads the team in average aggregate score and in smallbore as a freshman. Haydin averages an aggregate score of 1179.4 and a smallbore of 587.1. Duncan and Haydin qualified as individuals to the NCAA Championships in both smallbore and air rifle.
Army
In her first season as the full-time Head Rifle Coach, Leighton Dempster led Army West Point to a 2-8 overall record. As a team, the Black Knights missed a chance at a national title with just 9324.33 total points. However, an individual has a chance to compete.
Army averages a 4648.6 aggregate score, 2310.6 in smallbore, and 2338.0 in air rifle this season. Anusha Pakkam led the team with an average aggregate score of 1166.8 and a 588.8 in air rifle. However it was Kyle Kutz' 581.8 average smallbore score that qualified him to be an alternate for the NCAA Rifle Championships.
Akron
The Zips are coached by the longest tenured coach in Akron rifle history, Newt Engle, in his 45th season. Akron finished 11th in the standings for the NCAA Championships with 9409.0 total points.
Akron averages an aggregate score of 4694.8 per match, which is 10th in the nation. The Zips are also 10th in smallbore average and ninth in air rifle average (2328.5 in smallbore and 2366.2 in air rifle). Zips' men are leading in aggregate average with junior Gavin Perkowski in front averaging 1175.9 per match. Freshmen Andrew Duross is not far behind with an 1173.7 aggregate average. Perkowski and Duross also are the top two smallbore averages at 583.8 and 582.4. However, sophomore Perkowski also leads the team with a 592.2 in air rifle. Alexis Kirk is second in air rifle with a 592.1.
NC State
The Wolfpack are coached by interim coach Edie Fleeman, taking the reins in October. NC State ended the season with a 3-6 overall record and a 1-6 GARC record. The team placed 13th in the standing and missed out on the NCAA Championships however had an individual qualify
NC State averages an aggregate score of 4669.9 per match. The Wolfpack's average smallbore of 2316.2 and 2353.7 in air rifle. Ben Salas leads the NC State roster in all three disciplines based on average. The junior averages 1177.8 aggregate, 586.0 smallbore and 591.7 air rifle. Salas qualified for the NCAA Championships as an individual in smallbore and air rifle. Following closely behind is Katie Tedschi with her 1169.7 aggregate average. The sophomore is close behind Salas with a 590.1 air rifle but has a lower smallbore average of 579.6.
GARC Championship History
The Rebels have a rich history competing in the GARC Championships since joining in 2001. Ole Miss placed their highest since 2010 (last recorded) with a third-place finish. In that same time frame, the Rebels have placed in fourth place a total of five times and in fifth place a total of three times.
The team averages and aggregate score of 4,632.7 in the GARC championship during the years of the new scoring system. The Rebels shot their highest score of 4717 last season.
We're IN
Ole Miss rifle earned a spot into the NCAA Rifle Championships for the third consecutive year as the sixth seed. They will be joined by TCU, West Virginia, Alaska Fairbanks, Murray State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Nebraska, and Air Force.
The Rebels finished in third in 2020-21 and fourth last season. The team looks to take home the title this season.
Horvathing A Good Time
Lea Horvath became the only women in NCAA history to score a perfect 600 in air rifle three times in their career. The junior has scored perfect in every season of her career as a Rebel. She is one of seven to shoot perfect this season.
Horvath also broke some school records. She tied the match smallbore score with a 594 twice this year and three times total. She shattered the record for match aggregate score, which she previously held with a 1194.
ConGratz on a Stellar Day
There are Rebels hitting their stride at the perfect time in the season. Martina Gratz is one of the Rebels after a monster NCAA qualifier match. The Sigel, Illinois native, smashed career-highs in smallbore, air rifle and aggregate.
Gratz's previous smallbore career high set back in her freshman year was a 584. The junior broke it two years later with a 586. She excelled in air rifle, firing a 597, which is higher than the 596 she's hit three times. After combining those two scores for a 1183 aggregate, Gratz surpassed her previous mark of 1175.
LAMBDIN IT!
M'leah Lambdin had a career day in the Rebels' 4725-4721 win over Memphis on Saturday. She broke both her career-high in smallbore and aggregate score. In smallbore, the sophomore shot a 590 which puts her on small list of shooters. The mark was seven points higher than her previous high. After also shooting a 590 in air rifle, Lambdin finished with a 1180 aggregate score which is six points higher than her previous high. It's also 19 points higher than her season-high.
After such a great performance, Lambdin was named a smallbore counter for the NCAA Qualifier. It was her first time being a counter, for any discipline, this season.
Freshman Duo
In their first year at Ole Miss, Julianna Hays and Emma Pereira are making significant impacts in the lineup. They are two of the 38 different shooters to score a 590 or above in the nation in smallbore. Hays, from Maplewood, Minnesota, has been a counter for the team in both smallbore and air rifle all season. She shot 591 and twice shooting a 593 in air rifle this season. She is third on the team for smallbore average, air rifle and aggregate score.
Pereira is one of Ole Miss' five smallbore counters and has joined air rifle counters late in the season. She shot a 594 in air rifle against No. 3 Kentucky. She also scored a 590 in smallbore and an 1183 aggregate against No. 12 Murray State. All were season and career highs.
On the Line
- This season the Rebels continued to stack the program's all-time leaderboards. In 2022-23, the rifle team fired four top-10 aggregate scores, two top-five smallbore scores, and three top-five air rifle scores.
- The Rebels placed third in the 2022 GARC Championships and top-five the last two years.
- Ole Miss finished conference play with a 5-2 GARC record and are 17-3 in the conference the last three seasons.
- Ole Miss earned the sixth seed and a placed in the NCAA Rifle Championships. It's the third straight year the Rebels have secured a spot on the biggest stage.
- Derting led the field during NCAA Qualifiers with a career-high 1188 aggregate score. The senior also tops the standings with a 591 in smallbore and 587 in air rifle.
- The Rebels win over UT Martin earned Coach Marsha Beasley her 200th career win.
- The team averages the fifth best aggregate score of 4718.7 in the nation. The Rebels are fourth in smallbore (2343.6) and fifth in air rifle (2375.1).
- Ole Miss finished the regular season firing a 4700 or higher in 10 of their 11 matches, missing the mark in the season opener.
- Not counting the two freshman, five shooters either tied or surpassed career-highs in air rifle and aggregate and four in smallbore. Horvath, Gratz, Lambdin, and Tinsley broke all three this year.
- Ole Miss is one of three teams with two players averaging in the top-15 at air rifle. Derting is seventh, averaging 595.8 and Horvath averages 594.8.
- Derting and Horvath are also in the top-10 for average aggregate score. Horvath averages 1184.5 and Dering averages 1183.3
- Freshmen Julianna Hays and Emma Pereira both have a score of 590 or higher in smallbore. Ole Miss is one of two programs with at least two freshmen to score 590 or higher in smallbore. They are also two of just 11 freshmen to hit the mark.
- Horvath's 1194 aggregate score is a program record and tied seventh highest in the nation. She also tied the school's smallbore record of 594 twice this season.
- Martina Gratz showed out for her best match of her career in the most important match of the season. The junior shot career best in all three disciplines and finished third overall.
OXFORD, Miss – Ole Miss rifle shoots a strong 4724 during NCAA Qualifiers on Saturday. The Rebels also honored senior Claire O'Neel following the match.
The eight teams that will advance to the NCAA Rifle Championships in March are decided this weekend. Selections are determined by the three-score average and the score fired in the team's qualifier match. Ole Miss (9-2, 5-2 GARC) hopes to have solidified its spot with a 9456 average total. The field of eight will be revealed Monday, February 20, at 2 p.m. CT by the NCAA.
Rebels finished with four of the top five shooters of the match. Kristen Derting was on top of her game, getting top marks in both disciplines. The Oregon native had the top score of 1188. Of course, right behind her was Lea Horvath with a 1186 aggregate score. In third place, Martina Gratz had the best match of her career, ending with a 1183 combined score. Then rounding out the top five was Emma Pereira. The freshman shot a 1174 for the match.
In smallbore, Derting and Horvath got it started by both shooting a 591. Gratz had the third best smallbore score with a career-high 586. The Rebels outshot the Tigers in smallbore, 2341-2320.
It was a tight race in air rifle as Ole Miss edged Memphis (4-8, 2-6 GARC), 2383-2381. The Rebels placed the top two in air rife after both Derting and Gratz hitting a 597. That score surpassed Gratz's previous career-high in air rifle. Horvath finished fifth, shooting a 595.
The Tigers scored a 4701 for their NCAA qualifying score. Memphis fell behind with a 2320 smallbore score. The Tigers turned it around with a 2381 air rifle score but it was not enough. Gabriela Zych finished fourth overall with a 1181 aggregate score. Zych shot a 585 in smallbore and a 596 in air rifel, which were fourth-best in both disciplines.
Ole Miss travels to Morgantown, West Virginia, starting on February 25 for the GARC Championships.
Coach Marsha Beasley
- Eight-time NCAA Championship head coach
- Sixth season coaching the Rebels
- Earned her 200th victory against UT Martin this season
- Two-time College Rifle Coaches Association Coach of the Year with Ole Miss, has guided six Rebels to All-American honors and 12 to All-GARC honors
- Inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2022 after coaching at the school for 16 seasons
- Drafted the bylaws to create the Mid-America Rifle Conference (now GARC) and was a staff member at the (then) national governing body of shooting (the NRA) and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games
West Virginia
Led by Head Coach Jon Hammond since 2006, the Mountaineers have been in the national spotlight. West Virginia once again will once again compete in the NCAA Rifle National Championships as the No. 2 seed after going 16-4 overall and 8-1 in the conference. The team shot a 4741 in their NCAA qualifier and finished 9.34 points below the No. 1 seeded TCU.
West Virginia averages an aggregate score of 4732.286, which is third in the nation. The Mountaineers have yet to shoot under a 4712 all season long. They are led by one of the best shooters in the nation, Mary Tucker. The senior averages a nation-best 1190.6 aggregate score along with averaging 598.3 in air rifle (2nd) and 593.4 in smallbore (2nd). Tucker is the reigning CRCA Most Valuable Shooter of the Year and NCAA Overall Individual National Champions. The Mountaineers number two is Malori Brown who averages 1179.5 aggregate.
Kentucky
The Wildcats are coached by four-time GARC Coach of the Year Harry Mullins in his 36th season. Kentucky came into the season as the defending national champions and have won three of the last four NCAA Championships (2018, 2021, 2022). Kentucky was also the number one seed in 2020 when the championships were cancelled. The Wildcats are eyeing their fourth in five years after earning the fifth seed into the tournament this season. Kentucky shot a 4716 in their National Qualifier match and finished with .67 above the Rebels. The Wildcats also claimed the GARC regular season title.
As a team, Kentucky averages an aggregate score of 4720.6 per match, which is fourth in the nation. The Wildcats are led by freshman Sofia Ceccarello joins the Wildcats after being part of the Italy team in the Tokyo Olympics, who made the finals. Ceccarello is averaging 1187.5 aggregate score, which is fourth in the nation. She also averages 598.2 in air rifle (3rd) and 589.3 in smallbore (6th). Ceccarello is joined by fellow fifth-year senior and CRCA Smallbore, Air Rifle, and Aggregate All-American, Richard Clark. He averages the second highest aggregate score on the team of 1181.0. Can't forget about their fifth-year senior Will Shaner, who won the NCAA smallbore national championship last year and is an Olympic Gold Medalist in air rifle.
Two other members of the UK's national championship lineup also returned in senior Jaden Thompson and sophomore Allison Buesseler.
Memphis
The Tigers, coached by Morgan Phillips in her first season, are 4-8 overall and finished 2-5 in the conference. Memphis fired their top score of the season against Ole Miss to end the regular season with a 4721 then back it up with a 4701 in its NCAA Qualifier match. Unfortunately, the Tigers missed the NCAA Rifle Championship by 14 points to place 10th.
The team averages an aggregate score of 4684.6 per match. They are led by senior Angeline Henry in both smallbore and air rifle. Henry averages a smallbore score of 583.2 and an air rifle score of 594.2 for a total of 1177.3. Freshman Gabriela Zych is making a huge impact in the lineup as well. Zych is the other player on the roster averaging over 590 in air rifle along with an average score of 580.3 in smallbore. Henry and Zych qualified as individual to the NCAA Championships in air rifle. Memphis' Sophie Cruz and Jack Kersey are air rifle alternates.
Navy
The Midshipmen are coached by former Olympian Mike Anti in his sixth season. Navy is coming off one of the best seasons in program history, breaking program records in each of the three scoring categories along with setting a new program-best team averages in each of the three disciplines. Navy just missed NCAA National Championships by 12 points after going 11-7 overall and 3-5 in the conference.
As a team, Navy averages an aggregate score of 4696.0 per match, which is ninth in the nation. Sophomore Marleigh Duncan excelled once again after a record-breaking freshman campaign. Duncan won individual smallbore conference title last season, becoming the first student-athlete in program history to win a GARC Championship individual title. She also holds the school records in aggregate match score and individual smallbore scoring at 592. Duncan averages a 1179.3 aggregate, a 592.9 in air rifle and a 586.4 in smallbore. Parker Haydin leads the team in average aggregate score and in smallbore as a freshman. Haydin averages an aggregate score of 1179.4 and a smallbore of 587.1. Duncan and Haydin qualified as individuals to the NCAA Championships in both smallbore and air rifle.
Army
In her first season as the full-time Head Rifle Coach, Leighton Dempster led Army West Point to a 2-8 overall record. As a team, the Black Knights missed a chance at a national title with just 9324.33 total points. However, an individual has a chance to compete.
Army averages a 4648.6 aggregate score, 2310.6 in smallbore, and 2338.0 in air rifle this season. Anusha Pakkam led the team with an average aggregate score of 1166.8 and a 588.8 in air rifle. However it was Kyle Kutz' 581.8 average smallbore score that qualified him to be an alternate for the NCAA Rifle Championships.
Akron
The Zips are coached by the longest tenured coach in Akron rifle history, Newt Engle, in his 45th season. Akron finished 11th in the standings for the NCAA Championships with 9409.0 total points.
Akron averages an aggregate score of 4694.8 per match, which is 10th in the nation. The Zips are also 10th in smallbore average and ninth in air rifle average (2328.5 in smallbore and 2366.2 in air rifle). Zips' men are leading in aggregate average with junior Gavin Perkowski in front averaging 1175.9 per match. Freshmen Andrew Duross is not far behind with an 1173.7 aggregate average. Perkowski and Duross also are the top two smallbore averages at 583.8 and 582.4. However, sophomore Perkowski also leads the team with a 592.2 in air rifle. Alexis Kirk is second in air rifle with a 592.1.
NC State
The Wolfpack are coached by interim coach Edie Fleeman, taking the reins in October. NC State ended the season with a 3-6 overall record and a 1-6 GARC record. The team placed 13th in the standing and missed out on the NCAA Championships however had an individual qualify
NC State averages an aggregate score of 4669.9 per match. The Wolfpack's average smallbore of 2316.2 and 2353.7 in air rifle. Ben Salas leads the NC State roster in all three disciplines based on average. The junior averages 1177.8 aggregate, 586.0 smallbore and 591.7 air rifle. Salas qualified for the NCAA Championships as an individual in smallbore and air rifle. Following closely behind is Katie Tedschi with her 1169.7 aggregate average. The sophomore is close behind Salas with a 590.1 air rifle but has a lower smallbore average of 579.6.
GARC Championship History
The Rebels have a rich history competing in the GARC Championships since joining in 2001. Ole Miss placed their highest since 2010 (last recorded) with a third-place finish. In that same time frame, the Rebels have placed in fourth place a total of five times and in fifth place a total of three times.
The team averages and aggregate score of 4,632.7 in the GARC championship during the years of the new scoring system. The Rebels shot their highest score of 4717 last season.
We're IN
Ole Miss rifle earned a spot into the NCAA Rifle Championships for the third consecutive year as the sixth seed. They will be joined by TCU, West Virginia, Alaska Fairbanks, Murray State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Nebraska, and Air Force.
The Rebels finished in third in 2020-21 and fourth last season. The team looks to take home the title this season.
Horvathing A Good Time
Lea Horvath became the only women in NCAA history to score a perfect 600 in air rifle three times in their career. The junior has scored perfect in every season of her career as a Rebel. She is one of seven to shoot perfect this season.
Horvath also broke some school records. She tied the match smallbore score with a 594 twice this year and three times total. She shattered the record for match aggregate score, which she previously held with a 1194.
ConGratz on a Stellar Day
There are Rebels hitting their stride at the perfect time in the season. Martina Gratz is one of the Rebels after a monster NCAA qualifier match. The Sigel, Illinois native, smashed career-highs in smallbore, air rifle and aggregate.
Gratz's previous smallbore career high set back in her freshman year was a 584. The junior broke it two years later with a 586. She excelled in air rifle, firing a 597, which is higher than the 596 she's hit three times. After combining those two scores for a 1183 aggregate, Gratz surpassed her previous mark of 1175.
LAMBDIN IT!
M'leah Lambdin had a career day in the Rebels' 4725-4721 win over Memphis on Saturday. She broke both her career-high in smallbore and aggregate score. In smallbore, the sophomore shot a 590 which puts her on small list of shooters. The mark was seven points higher than her previous high. After also shooting a 590 in air rifle, Lambdin finished with a 1180 aggregate score which is six points higher than her previous high. It's also 19 points higher than her season-high.
After such a great performance, Lambdin was named a smallbore counter for the NCAA Qualifier. It was her first time being a counter, for any discipline, this season.
Freshman Duo
In their first year at Ole Miss, Julianna Hays and Emma Pereira are making significant impacts in the lineup. They are two of the 38 different shooters to score a 590 or above in the nation in smallbore. Hays, from Maplewood, Minnesota, has been a counter for the team in both smallbore and air rifle all season. She shot 591 and twice shooting a 593 in air rifle this season. She is third on the team for smallbore average, air rifle and aggregate score.
Pereira is one of Ole Miss' five smallbore counters and has joined air rifle counters late in the season. She shot a 594 in air rifle against No. 3 Kentucky. She also scored a 590 in smallbore and an 1183 aggregate against No. 12 Murray State. All were season and career highs.
Players Mentioned
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