For the second time in as many weekends, the University of Alaska Fairbanks rifle team posted a new program-record aggregate score.
The Nanooks beat the program record of 4756 that they set in a win over Air Force on Jan. 26. They set that mark at the Tanana Valley Sportsmen’s Association and beat it by one point on Saturday, at the on-campus E.F. Horton Rifle Range with a mark of 4757. UAF also shot higher than 4750 twice in its national championship season of 2022-23.
For the second week in a row, the Nanooks also tied their air rifle program record with a 2390 tally. Although Kentucky shot 2391 in the air rifle. UAF opened up a large lead in smallbore, outshooting the Wildcats 2367-2349 for an aggregate score that was 17 points higher.
Graduate senior Cecelia Ossi led the way Saturday, tying UAF’s individual smallbore program record of 597 en route to breaking the Nanooks’ individual aggregate score record with an 1196 to finish as the top individual overall by seven points Sunday.
Fellow senior Sara Karasova finished runner-up in smallbore, shooting 591. UAF freshman Teagan Perkowski and junior Rachael Charles finished fourth and fifth in smallbore, respectively, while freshman Lucie Kissenberger placed seventh.
Ossi led the way for the Nanooks in air rifle, finishing runner-up one point behind Kentucky sophomore Braden Peiser, who shot a perfect score of 600. UAF sophomore Elli Spencer placed third in air rifle, and Charles, Kissenberger, Karasova and Perkowski placed sixth, seventh, eighth and 10th in that order.
Peiser finished runner-up behind Ossi in the aggregate standings. Karasova (third), Charles (fourth), Kissenberger (seventh), Perkowski (eighth) and Spencer (ninth) also finished in the top 10 overall for the Nanooks.
UAF was scheduled for two days of competition against Kentucky, but Friday’s match was cancelled due to the Wildcats’ rifles reportedly being delayed in transit.
“Today was an awesome match,” UAF head coach Will Anti said via university release. “It’s hard not to smile after some of those results. Lots of highlights today, but our seniors shined on their day. All seniors shooting above a 590 was really impressive. Of course, Cecelia’s 597 [smallbore] was legendary.”
UAF is now 11-1 this season and has won eight matches in a row dating back to November. The ‘Nooks are No. 2 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) rankings.
The Nanooks are now readying to enter the postseason. They’ll visit Ohio State (who they defeated twice earlier this season) on Thursday, Feb. 6 and then head to the Patriot Rifle Conference Championships in Fort Wayne, Indiana this weekend Feb. 8-9.
