EL PASO, Texas – UTEP rifle sophomore Kameron Wells will represent the Miners at the 2026 NCAA Rifle Championships, set for March 13–14 inside Covelli Center on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
The championships will feature both team and individual competitions across two disciplines. Smallbore three-position (60 shots) will take place Friday, March 13, while air rifle (60 shots) competition is scheduled for Saturday, March 14.
Wells becomes the second Miner in as many years to compete on the national stage. At the 2025 championships, teammate Carlee Valenta qualified and placed 17th in air rifle, becoming the first individual Miner to reach the national meet since Alix Moncada finished seventh in air rifle in 2011.
Wells has delivered an outstanding sophomore season, posting a 595.538 average in air rifle. She also etched her name in the program record book earlier this year, firing a perfect 600 at the Miners' quad match in Columbus against Ohio State, Murray State, and Akron on Nov. 8.
Throughout the season, Wells has led UTEP in air rifle six times and has recorded a score of 591 or higher in every match.
A total of 48 competitors will participate in the NCAA Championships. Forty athletes will represent the top eight qualifying teams, while eight individuals—including Wells—earned selection based on their scores in the designated qualifier. Wells recorded the highest qualifying score among the four individual air rifle selections with a 598.
Valenta was also recognized as an air rifle alternate for the championships.
UTEP's last team appearance at the NCAA Rifle Championships came in 2012, when the Miners finished fifth overall. Wells will now carry the program's presence back to the national stage as she competes among the country's top shooters.
Fans can follow the live action via the NCAA's streaming platforms:
📺 Smallbore Live Stream – NCAA.com
📺 Air Rifle Live Stream – NCAA.com
🎯 Live Targets – Megalink
Qualifying Teams and Individuals (listed alphabetically)
| TEAMS |
INDIV. SMALLBORE |
INDIV. AIR RIFLE |
|
Alaska Fairbanks
Georgia Southern
Kentucky
Navy
Nebraska
Ole Miss
TCU
West Virginia
|
Addison Antwiler, Army West Point
Katrina Demerle, Memphis
Carlotta Salafia, Murray State
Lea Soule, Murray State
Alternates
Riley Dunn, Ohio State
Alexander Pohlman, VMI |
Lily Wytko, Air Force
Caroline Martin, Murray State
Lily Miller, Air Force
Kameron Wells, UTEP
Alternates
Abby Ballard, Murray State
Carlee Valenta, UTEP
|
COMPLETE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (ET)
| FRIDAY, MARCH 13 |
| 8:00am |
Covelli Center doors open |
| 8:45am-4:00pm Smallbore Individual & Team Competition with finals |
|
Relay #1: 9:15a-10:45a
Realy #2: 11:30a-12:45p
Finals: 2:00p-3:00p |
| SATURDAY, MARCH 14 |
| 8:00am |
Covelli Center doors open |
| 8:45am-3:00pm Air Rifle Individual & Team Competitiion with Finals |
|
Relay #1: 9:15a-10:30a
Relay #2: 11:15a-12:30p
Finals: 1:30p-2:30p |
| 2:30p-3:00p |
Awards Ceremony |
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