EL PASO –The No. 16 UTEP rifle team delivered a strong performance in its NCAA Qualifier match on Saturday, posting a 4,691 team aggregate score against the nation's top-ranked program, Alaska Fairbanks, at the UTEP Rifle Range.
The Miners recorded a 2,325 in smallbore and a 2,366 in air rifle, while Alaska Fairbanks posted an aggregate of 4,753 (2,368 smallbore, 2,385 air rifle).
Saturday's match also marked a special moment for the Miners, as they honored seniors Isabella Rios and Amy Visconti. Rios has been a dedicated member of the program since the 2020-21 season, while Visconti joined the Miners this year as a graduate transfer from Georgia Southern.
UTEP's Carlee Valenta made history, setting a school record with an aggregate score of 1,181. Her standout performance included another program-best mark of 599 in air rifle, paired with a 582 in smallbore. She finished seventh overall, with teammates Kameron Wells (1,173) and Rios (1,168) also earning top-10 finishes.
Additional UTEP scores included:
| UTEP SMALLBORE |
UTEP AIR RIFLE |
Czernik – 574-6x
Hildebrandt – 578-26x*
Keel – 570-21x
Rios – 583-32x*
Valenta – 582-30x*
A. Visconti – 580-29x*
H. Visconti – 556-18x
Wells – 580-27x* |
Czernik – 582-32x
Hildebrandt – 575-32x
Keel – 588-39x*
Rios – 585-33x*
Valenta – 599-52x*
A. Visconti – 586-31x*
H. Visconti – 578-30x
Wells – 593-44x* |
* Squad Counter
Saturday's qualifier score was the final factor in determining the field for the 2025 NCAA Rifle Championships, set to take place March 14-15 at Historic Memorial Coliseum on the University of Kentucky campus. Each team's qualification is based on the average of its top three regular-season scores, fired at three different locations, plus its NCAA qualifier score.
UTEP's qualifying scores include:
- 4,694 (El Paso, Feb. 1)
- 4,685 (Columbus, Nov. 2)
- 4,672 (Lincoln, Nov. 10)
- 4,691 (NCAA Qualifier, Feb. 22)
With these marks, UTEP's final NCAA qualifying total stands at 9,374.67. The Miners now await the final announcement of the eight teams that will advance to the NCAA Championships.
Fun Fact: Exactly 20 years ago on Feb. 22, 2005, UTEP's Leah Wilcox set the school record in smallbore with a remarkable score of 590.
Give a gift to UTEP Rifle by donating to the Sharpshooters Club.
Stay up to date with UTEP Rifle by subscribing to the team's newsletter here.
For complete coverage of UTEP Rifle, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @uteprifle (X), @utep_rifle (Instagram) and on Facebook or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.
