FORT WAYNE, Ind. – UTEP Rifle wrapped up competition at the 2026 Patriot Rifle Conference (PRC) Championship on Sunday at The X Count, returning to El Paso with hardware and a historic performance. The Miners placed third as a team in air rifle, powered by a school-record score of 2386, marking UTEP's first-ever podium finish at the PRC Championship and continuing a record-setting weekend for the program.
UTEP finished fifth overall out of seven teams, posting a 2316 in smallbore and combining with its air rifle score for a 4702 team aggregate. Nebraska swept the championship, earning team titles in smallbore, air rifle, and the overall aggregate. The Miners finished ahead of Air Force and Ohio State in the final standings.
Individually, Carlee Valenta recorded a top-10 overall finish, placing 10th with an 1185 aggregate. Valenta led the Miners in smallbore with a 587 and finished as the team's top aggregate shooter.
Kameron Wells delivered one of the standout performances of the championship, earning a spot in the air rifle medal round after finishing second in qualification with a 599-54x. Wells became the first Miner in program history to advance to a PRC finals round. She also finished second on the team in aggregate (1180).
Valenta narrowly missed advancing to the finals, finishing ninth in air rifle with a 598, underscoring the depth and competitiveness of the PRC. Ole Miss' Audrey Gogniat fired a 600, Wells posted a 599, and seven shooters tied at 598, with advancement determined by centers.
Additional UTEP performances included:
| SMALLBORE |
AIR RIFLE |
Czernik - 577 *
Keel - 564 *
Valenta - 587 *
Ka. Wells - 581 *
Ke. Wells - 571 *
*counter |
Czernik - 595 *
Keel - 589 *
Valenta - 598 *
Ka. Wells - 599 *
Ke. Wells - 594 *
*counter |
Up Next
UTEP will return home to host a regular-season matchup on Sunday, February 15, welcoming Schreiner University to the Sun City. The Miners will then travel north for the NCAA Qualifier at Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday, February 21, in Fairbanks, Alaska.
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