EL PASO, Texas – UTEP rifle's Carlee Valenta and Kameron Wells have earned CRCA All-America honors, marking the program's first All-American selections in 14 years.
Valenta was tabbed a second-team All-American in air rifle, while Wells garnered honorable mention recognition in the same discipline. The pair's accolades signal a major milestone for the Miners, who last placed athletes on the All-America list following the 2012 season.
"It makes me happy to have UTEP on the All-American list again after 14 years and I know that everyone else on the team is hungry for more," said head coach Andrea Palafox. "We have made it our goal to be one of the top competitive teams in the country, and this is only the beginning. We are ready to continue working hard and to make the community of El Paso proud of the team that we have built.
Seeing two Miners representing the team is encouraging to continue thriving as well as a good indicator that we're doing something very special with this team. I hope that this serves as inspiration for the upcoming year."
The last time UTEP rifle produced All-Americans came in 2012, when the Miners advanced to the NCAA Championships as a team and placed fifth overall. Four student-athletes earned All-America honors that season, including Palafox, who was named a first-team All-American in air rifle and earned honorable mention in smallbore. Alix Moncada picked up second-team honors in air rifle, Jennifer Armendariz earned honorable mention in air rifle, and Andrea Vautrin was named second-team All-American in smallbore.
Valenta, a sophomore, delivered a dominant season in air rifle, posting a team-best 596.3 average. She led UTEP in the discipline six times and recorded a score of 593 or higher in every match, showcasing remarkable consistency throughout the year.
Wells also turned in an outstanding sophomore campaign, earning honorable mention All-America recognition. She averaged a 595.538 in air rifle, led the Miners six times, and posted a score of 591 or higher in every match. Earlier this season, Wells etched her name in the program record book by firing UTEP's first-ever perfect 600 at the Miners' quad match in Columbus against Ohio State, Murray State, and Akron on Nov. 8.
Wells capped her season by representing UTEP at the 2026 NCAA Rifle Championships, held at the Covelli Center on the campus of Ohio State. Competing in the air rifle event, she fired a 597-51x to place 15th overall out of 43 shooters in the national field.
Wells' national appearance comes one year after Valenta qualified for the 2025 NCAA Championships and finished 17th in air rifle, becoming the first individual Miner to reach the national meet since Moncada placed seventh in 2011.
With two All-Americans leading the way, UTEP rifle continues to build momentum on the national stage, signaling a bright future for the program.
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