Live Results | Live Targets
EL PASO, Texas – The No. 15 UTEP rifle team will open its 2025-26 season at home on Saturday, Oct. 4, welcoming No. 6 Ole Miss to the UTEP Rifle Range. Admission is free and open to the public. Doors open at 8 a.m. MT, with competition beginning at 9 a.m. MT.
| SCHEDULE |
| SMALLBORE |
AIR RIFLE |
9:00 - Preparation and Sighting
9:15-10:45 - Match Fire
10:45-11:30 - Break |
11:30 - Preparation and Sighting
11:45-1:00 - Match Fire
|
IN THE MINE SHAFT
UTEP enters the season under the direction of head coach Andrea Palafox, who begins her fourth year at the helm of the program. Palafox, a former Miner and five-time All-American, was named the 2024-25 Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Coach of the Year after guiding UTEP to a record-breaking campaign. She is just the second coach in program history to earn a national coaching award, joining George Brenzovich (2012).
The Miners return an experienced core, led by veterans Julia Czernik, Paige Hildebrandt, Xan Keel, Kameron Wells, and Carlee Valenta. UTEP also welcomes freshman Kennedy Wells, the younger sister of Kameron.
Valenta already holds two UTEP program records (599 air rifle, 1181 aggregate) and became the first Miner to qualify for the NCAA Championships in air rifle since 2012, where she finished 17th nationally. Wells contributed to the team's second-best averages across the board last season.
2024-25 SEASON REVIEW
Under Palafox's guidance, the Miners set multiple program marks in 2024-25, including:
- A school-record 4,694 aggregate score in a win over Nebraska.
- Freshman standout Carlee Valenta qualifying for the NCAA Championships, where she posted a program-record 599 in air rifle and a record 1811 aggregate at the qualifier against Alaska Fairbanks.
- A rise to as high as No. 14 in the national rankings.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
Excellence extended beyond the range as all eight Miners were named to the 2025 CRCA Scholastic All-America Team. Czernik, Hildebrandt, Keel, Valenta, and Wells all earned honors, with Hildebrandt and Keel recognized for the second time.
The team was also recognized at the Golden Pick Awards for holding the highest GPA among UTEP programs (3.81). Additionally, all five returners earned spots on the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and received Commissioner's Academic Medals.
THE OPPONENT
Ole Miss
Saturday's match will also mark the debut of head coach Will Shaner, who begins his first season at the helm of the Rebels. Ole Miss returns eight letterwinners from last season, including multiple consistent counters, and adds two freshmen, Savannah Criddle and Jadyn Morgan.
The Rebels are led by sophomore Audrey Gogniat, the reigning NCAA individual air rifle champion, who also holds Ole Miss records in smallbore (597) and aggregate (1197) and has twice tied the program's air rifle record with a perfect 600. Fellow sophomore Gracie Dinh earned CRCA First Team Smallbore and Honorable Mention Aggregate honors in 2025.
This season marks the 30th year of Ole Miss Rifle competition.
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