Live Results | Live Targets
EL PASO, Texas – No. 10 UTEP Rifle will travel to No. 8 Alaska Fairbanks for the 2026 NCAA rifle qualifier match on Saturday (Feb. 21) at the E.F. Horton Rifle Range.
Saturday, Feb. 21
vs. No. 8 Alaska
Fairbanks | E.F. Horton Rifle Range (Patty Center)
LAST MATCH RECAP
In its final home match of the season, the No. 10 Miners delivered a commanding performance, defeating Schreiner, 4711-4417, at the UTEP Rifle Range. The victory marked UTEP's third straight home win.
UTEP posted a 2338 in smallbore before closing with a 2373 in air rifle to secure the 294-point margin. Schreiner recorded a 2175 in smallbore and a 2242 in air rifle.
Carlee Valenta led the way, claiming the all-around title with a match-high 1188 aggregate after firing a 591 in smallbore and a 597 in air rifle. Kameron Wells finished second overall with a 1182, while Kennedy Wells placed third with a career-best 1179. The Wells sisters each recorded identical 595-51x marks in air rifle.
MINERS ON THE PODIUM
Valenta has also shined outside of NCAA competition, making two podium appearances this season. She placed third in the open final at the USA Shooting Winter Air Gun Championships in Camp Perry, Ohio (December 2025), before earning another third-place finish at the Winter Grand Prix in Kisakallio Lohja Finland (January 2026).
SCOUTING THE FIELD
UTEP
The Miners are averaging 4703.583 this season, ranking 11th nationally. UTEP sits ninth in air rifle (2376.083) and 14th in smallbore (2327.5).
Valenta leads the team in both guns and overall aggregate, ranking 14th nationally in air rifle (596.333), 24th in aggregate (1181.333), and 36th in smallbore (585).
UTEP's top score this season is a 4720 at home, followed by a 4717 at Ohio State and a 4706 at TCU. The Miners currently stand 11th in the NCAA team rankings with a 4714.33 average.
Alaska
The host Nanooks are averaging 4725.153 this season, including a 2343.538 average in smallbore and a 2381.615 average in air rifle. Alaska ranks eighth nationally with a team total of 4737.
Lucie Kissenberger leads the team with an 1182.462 aggregate average and tops the Nanooks in smallbore (587.385) while ranking third in air rifle (595.077). Teagan Perkowski follows with an 1181.154 aggregate average and leads Alaska in air rifle (595.846) while ranking second in smallbore (585.308).
Alaska's season-best score is a 4747 at home, along with a 4740 at TSA and a 4724 at Army.
ABOUT THE NCAA QUALIFIER
The NCAA qualifier will be the final score necessary to determine which eight teams will travel to Columbus, Ohio to compete in the NCAA Championships in March. The first three scores come from regular season matches, and all three must come from separate locations. The fourth score calculated into the average is the qualifier score.
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
