FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The No. 10 UTEP Rifle team posted a 4,710 aggregate Saturday afternoon at its 2026 NCAA Qualifier match in Fairbanks, Alaska. Host No. 8 Alaska Nanooks edged the Miners with a 4,735 aggregate.
UTEP recorded a 2,326 in smallbore, trailing Alaska's 2,351. Both teams matched each other shot-for-shot in air rifle with identical 2,384 scores, but the Nanooks secured the advantage in centers, 211-186.
Kameron Wells paced the Miners with an 1,183 aggregate.
Julia Czernik followed closely with a career-best 1,180 aggregate, highlighting an all-around performance that included a personal-best 596 in air rifle while matching her 584 smallbore.
Carlee Valenta added an 1,175, followed by
Xan Keel with an 1,172.
Kennedy Wells fired an 1,168 aggregate, and
Paige Hildebrandt rounded out the lineup with an 1,164, bolstered by a personal-best 593 in air rifle.
| SMALLBORE |
AIR RIFLE |
Czernik - 584*
Hildebrandt - 571
Keel - 578*
Valenta - 579*
Ka. Wells - 585*
Ke. Wells - 578*
*counter |
Czernik - 596*
Hildebrandt - 593
Keel - 594*
Valenta - 596*
Ka. Wells - 598*
Ke. Wells - 590*
*counter |
Saturday's qualifier marked the final component in determining the field for the 2026 NCAA Rifle Championships, scheduled for March 13-14 in Columbus, Ohio. Each team's championship 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 four counting scores include:
- 4720 – El Paso, Texas (Nov. 20)
- 4717 – Columbus, Ohio (Nov. 9)
- 4706 – Fort Worth, Texas (Oct. 19)
- 4710 – NCAA Qualifier (Feb. 21)
With those marks, UTEP's final NCAA qualifying total stands at 9,424.33. The Miners now await the official announcement of the eight teams that will advance to the NCAA Championships.
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
