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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Saturday, February 24
West Point, N.Y.
8 AM
Ole Miss
at
GARC Championships
Rifle Hopes to Take the Next Step at GARC Championships
2/23/2024 | Rifle
WEST POINT, N.Y. – After posting their best score of the spring, Ole Miss looks to keep its momentum going at GARC Championships in West Point, N.Y. on February 24-27.
The Rebels along with the six other GARC programs will face off in smallbore the first day and air rifle the next day for a chance at the conference title. Ole Miss finished the 2023 GARC Championships in second place which is a program best.
On the Line
Coach Rachel Martin
Scouting the Opponent
Akron
The Zips, led by Newt Engle in his 46th season, are 6-11 overall and 3-3 in GARC. The team averages 2327.3 in smallbore and 2369.1 in air rifle for a 4696.4 aggregate average. Akron finished in fifth at the 2022 GARC Championships.
Some upperclassmen, such as senior Gavin Perkowski and junior Alexis Kirk, led Akron this year. Perkowski averages the high aggregate score per match with an 1178.9. He also leads the team in smallbore and air rifle average. Perkowski will continue to represent the Zips as an individual qualifier for air rifle at the NCAA Rifle Championships. He is the first since to qualify for Akron since Andre Gross in 2022. Kirk is second in all three disciplines and one of three Zips to average above 590 in air rifle.
Army
The Black Knights, led by Leighton Dempster in her 2nd season, finished 15th in the nation. Dempster has turned the team around from a 2-8 record in 2022-23 to an 8-5 overall record this year. Army looks to improve on their eight-place finish in last year's conference tournament.
Three seniors lead Army with Anusha Pakkam in front of the pack. Pakkam has the highest averages in air rifle and aggregate scoring. She averages an 1173.9 aggregate score and the only player with an above 590 in air rifle. Fellow senior Kyle Kutz is second on the team in both categories but leads the team in smallbore average with a 582.9.
Kentucky
The Wildcats, led by four-time national championship coach Harry Mullins, qualified for the NCAA Championships as the fourth seed. Kentucky is averaging a 2341.25 in smallbore and 2380.58 in air rifle for a season aggregate average of 4721.83.
Sophomore Sofia Ceccarello leads Kentucky this season in both smallbore average and air rifle average. She is averaging a 587.917 in smallbore and 597.75 in air rifle for an aggregate average of 1185.667. Fifth-year seniors Emmie Sellers and Jaden Thompson are right behind her.
Memphis
The Tigers, led by Morgan Phillips in his 2nd season, are 7-6 overall and 2-4 in GARC. A slight improvement from last year's 4-8 record. Memphis averages a 2322.3 smallbore and 2371.3 air rifle averages for a combined 4693.5 aggregate match average. The team is on a three-match win streak, including two top-10 teams.
Sophomore Gabriela Zych qualified as a NCAA smallbore and air rifle individual for the second straight season. Zych leads the Tigers with an 1181.5 aggregate average and tops the team in smallbore and air rifle average. Memphis consists of four players who average above 590 in air rifle. Teammate Angeline Henry claimed an air alternate spot.
Navy
The Midshipmen, led by Mike Anti in his seventh season, earned a spot at the NCAA Championships for the fourth time under Anti. Navy comes into the GARC Championships after three consecutive record-breaking weekends, moving from 12th place to seventh in the standings.
Freshman Isabella Baldwin is the front runner in all three disciplines for Navy. Baldwin averages 1181.7 aggregate, 588.5 smallbore and 593.2 air rifle. Veterans Marleigh Duncan and Clarissa Layland are also big contributors as both averages above a 592 in air rifle.
West Virginia
The Mountaineers, led by Jon Hammond in his 18th season, landed as the No. 1 ranked team heading into the NCAA Championships. West Virginia fired the highest mark in all of NCAA rifle of 4751 and did so the first match of the season and during the NCAA Qualifier. The Mountaineers are the only remaining undefeated team at 12-0 and are looking to their second consecutive GARC title and 16th overall.
The team is led by fifth year Mary Tucker who averages just under an 1190 aggregate with an 1189.3. She also leads in smallbore and air rifle average. Molly McGhin is not far behind in air rifle average, shooting 596.2 per match. Matt Sanchez and freshman Griffin Lake average a 594 in air rifle. Sanchez is second in smallbore average with a 589.9.
GARC Championship History
The Rebels have a rich history competing in the GARC Championships since joining in 2001. Ole Miss placed their highest since 2010 (last recorded) with a second place finish last year. In that same time frame, the Rebels have placed in third place in 2022, fourth place a total of five times and in fifth place a total of three times.
The team averages and aggregate score of 4,637.2 in the GARC championship during the years of the new scoring system. The Rebels shot their highest score of 4717 in 2022.
Becoming a Yearly Tradition
Ole Miss rifle secured its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance after an excellent showing at NCAA Qualifier. The team's 4715 in the qualifiers moved them from seventh place to sixth place. In the past three appearances, the Rebels have earned a top-four finish, including a program high third place in 2022.
Kristen Derting and Lea Horvath are the most experienced Rebels, competing in all three appearances from 2021-2023. Both averaging 1180 and above in aggregate scoring. In Horvath's first NCAA Championships, she earned bronze in smallbore and air rifle. Horvath was fourth and Derting was top-10 overall in 2021. In 2022, Derting put on a show, placing in seventh in smallbore, fourth in air rifle and fifth overall.
The 2023 NCAA Championships feature five Rebels still with the team. Derting highlighted the championships with an 1182 aggregate score which was good for fifth place overall. Derting, Horvath and freshman Emma Pereira shot a 588 in smallbore with Horvath and Pereira qualifying for the finals. Pereira took seventh and Horvath grabbed fifth in the event. Martina Gratz fired the best air rifle mark of 596.
A Day for the Freshmen
Regan Diamond and Gretchen Schleinkofer shined the brightest during the NCAA Qualifiers, hitting new career-highs. Diamond helped the Rebels get back right in smallbore with a 2352 by firing her first 590 of her career. She then tied the team lead in air rifle to tie her career-best 1182 aggregate for the third time.
Schleinkofer shot well in smallbore to a 582 however it was air rifle she exceled. The Fort Wayne, Indiana native scorched a 591 which was three more than her previous best. Schleinkofer's combined score of 1173 was one better than her career-best against West Virginia.
Taking the Next Step
After back-to-back sixth place finishes in 2019 and 2020, Ole Miss has been on an upward climb every season. In 2021, the Rebels took fourth place, in 2022, the Rebels grabbed third place, and last season earned a program high second place in the conference tournament. The Rebels look to continue the trend by taking the GARC title this year.
Making it Count
Katie Tedeschi countered smallbore for the first time all season against Akron and made it count. The junior transfer fired a season-high 582 in smallbore and 595 in air rifle for an 1177 aggregate. The air rifle score was just one below her career-high 596 when she played for N.C. State. Tedeschi is one of the six Rebels traveling to the GARC Championships.
SEC Legend Ali Weisz
Two-time All-American Ali Weisz competed all four years as an individual qualifier at the NCAA Championships. In 2014, Weisz became the first freshman in program history to qualify for the NCAA Championships and competed in air rifle, finishing 16th out of 48 shooters with a 587. She qualified for smallbore as a sophomore in 2015. As a junior, Weisz qualified for the NCAAs once again in air rifle and went on to finish third, earning a bronze medal with a 593. An active-duty member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit since 2020, Weisz posted her first international victory at the 2019 Pan American Games, and two years later, she had a solid showing in the Tokyo Olympics. Weisz won the women's 10-meter air rifle event at the 2022 ISSF World, becoming the first U.S. woman to win an individual world title in a rifle event since 1979. She also secured the United States a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Rebs on Socials
For more information on Ole Miss rifle, follow the Rebels on Facebook (OleMissRifle), Twitter (@OleMissRifle), Instagram (@OleMissRifle), and at OleMissSports.com.
The Rebels along with the six other GARC programs will face off in smallbore the first day and air rifle the next day for a chance at the conference title. Ole Miss finished the 2023 GARC Championships in second place which is a program best.
On the Line
- Rebels locked in their fourth consecutive NCAA Championship selection.
- Coach Martin has taken her teams to the big stage all three seasons as a head coach (two with Nebraska).
- Olivia Schammel broke career highs in all three disciplines against Memphis.
- Emma Pereira broke her smallbore career-high with a 591 against Georgia Southern.
- Shot a team air rifle score of 2370 in four of the last five matches.
- Julianna Hays broke career records in smallbore, air rifle, and aggregate in a win over Akron.
- Regan Diamond and Gretchen Schleinkofer highlighted the NCAA Qualifier. Diamond scored her first 590 in smallbore and Schleinkofer notched a 591 in air rifle.
- Kristen Derting tied her career-high air rifle score of 598 against Army.
- Shot two top-five program marks in match score, two in smallbore and another in air rifle during the fall.
- Coach Martin earned her first win as the Rebels' head coach against Jacksonville State.
- New assistant coach Will Shaner won the men's air rifle gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Coach Rachel Martin
- First season as the Rebels head coach, promoted after one season as assistant coach
- Two years of head coaching experience at Nebraska, guiding them to the NCAA Championships in both seasons
- Coached three All-Americans
- Former collegiate shooter with Nebraska from 2014-17
- NCAA Individual Smallbore Champion in 2015
Scouting the Opponent
Akron
The Zips, led by Newt Engle in his 46th season, are 6-11 overall and 3-3 in GARC. The team averages 2327.3 in smallbore and 2369.1 in air rifle for a 4696.4 aggregate average. Akron finished in fifth at the 2022 GARC Championships.
Some upperclassmen, such as senior Gavin Perkowski and junior Alexis Kirk, led Akron this year. Perkowski averages the high aggregate score per match with an 1178.9. He also leads the team in smallbore and air rifle average. Perkowski will continue to represent the Zips as an individual qualifier for air rifle at the NCAA Rifle Championships. He is the first since to qualify for Akron since Andre Gross in 2022. Kirk is second in all three disciplines and one of three Zips to average above 590 in air rifle.
Army
The Black Knights, led by Leighton Dempster in her 2nd season, finished 15th in the nation. Dempster has turned the team around from a 2-8 record in 2022-23 to an 8-5 overall record this year. Army looks to improve on their eight-place finish in last year's conference tournament.
Three seniors lead Army with Anusha Pakkam in front of the pack. Pakkam has the highest averages in air rifle and aggregate scoring. She averages an 1173.9 aggregate score and the only player with an above 590 in air rifle. Fellow senior Kyle Kutz is second on the team in both categories but leads the team in smallbore average with a 582.9.
Kentucky
The Wildcats, led by four-time national championship coach Harry Mullins, qualified for the NCAA Championships as the fourth seed. Kentucky is averaging a 2341.25 in smallbore and 2380.58 in air rifle for a season aggregate average of 4721.83.
Sophomore Sofia Ceccarello leads Kentucky this season in both smallbore average and air rifle average. She is averaging a 587.917 in smallbore and 597.75 in air rifle for an aggregate average of 1185.667. Fifth-year seniors Emmie Sellers and Jaden Thompson are right behind her.
Memphis
The Tigers, led by Morgan Phillips in his 2nd season, are 7-6 overall and 2-4 in GARC. A slight improvement from last year's 4-8 record. Memphis averages a 2322.3 smallbore and 2371.3 air rifle averages for a combined 4693.5 aggregate match average. The team is on a three-match win streak, including two top-10 teams.
Sophomore Gabriela Zych qualified as a NCAA smallbore and air rifle individual for the second straight season. Zych leads the Tigers with an 1181.5 aggregate average and tops the team in smallbore and air rifle average. Memphis consists of four players who average above 590 in air rifle. Teammate Angeline Henry claimed an air alternate spot.
Navy
The Midshipmen, led by Mike Anti in his seventh season, earned a spot at the NCAA Championships for the fourth time under Anti. Navy comes into the GARC Championships after three consecutive record-breaking weekends, moving from 12th place to seventh in the standings.
Freshman Isabella Baldwin is the front runner in all three disciplines for Navy. Baldwin averages 1181.7 aggregate, 588.5 smallbore and 593.2 air rifle. Veterans Marleigh Duncan and Clarissa Layland are also big contributors as both averages above a 592 in air rifle.
West Virginia
The Mountaineers, led by Jon Hammond in his 18th season, landed as the No. 1 ranked team heading into the NCAA Championships. West Virginia fired the highest mark in all of NCAA rifle of 4751 and did so the first match of the season and during the NCAA Qualifier. The Mountaineers are the only remaining undefeated team at 12-0 and are looking to their second consecutive GARC title and 16th overall.
The team is led by fifth year Mary Tucker who averages just under an 1190 aggregate with an 1189.3. She also leads in smallbore and air rifle average. Molly McGhin is not far behind in air rifle average, shooting 596.2 per match. Matt Sanchez and freshman Griffin Lake average a 594 in air rifle. Sanchez is second in smallbore average with a 589.9.
GARC Championship History
The Rebels have a rich history competing in the GARC Championships since joining in 2001. Ole Miss placed their highest since 2010 (last recorded) with a second place finish last year. In that same time frame, the Rebels have placed in third place in 2022, fourth place a total of five times and in fifth place a total of three times.
The team averages and aggregate score of 4,637.2 in the GARC championship during the years of the new scoring system. The Rebels shot their highest score of 4717 in 2022.
Becoming a Yearly Tradition
Ole Miss rifle secured its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance after an excellent showing at NCAA Qualifier. The team's 4715 in the qualifiers moved them from seventh place to sixth place. In the past three appearances, the Rebels have earned a top-four finish, including a program high third place in 2022.
Kristen Derting and Lea Horvath are the most experienced Rebels, competing in all three appearances from 2021-2023. Both averaging 1180 and above in aggregate scoring. In Horvath's first NCAA Championships, she earned bronze in smallbore and air rifle. Horvath was fourth and Derting was top-10 overall in 2021. In 2022, Derting put on a show, placing in seventh in smallbore, fourth in air rifle and fifth overall.
The 2023 NCAA Championships feature five Rebels still with the team. Derting highlighted the championships with an 1182 aggregate score which was good for fifth place overall. Derting, Horvath and freshman Emma Pereira shot a 588 in smallbore with Horvath and Pereira qualifying for the finals. Pereira took seventh and Horvath grabbed fifth in the event. Martina Gratz fired the best air rifle mark of 596.
A Day for the Freshmen
Regan Diamond and Gretchen Schleinkofer shined the brightest during the NCAA Qualifiers, hitting new career-highs. Diamond helped the Rebels get back right in smallbore with a 2352 by firing her first 590 of her career. She then tied the team lead in air rifle to tie her career-best 1182 aggregate for the third time.
Schleinkofer shot well in smallbore to a 582 however it was air rifle she exceled. The Fort Wayne, Indiana native scorched a 591 which was three more than her previous best. Schleinkofer's combined score of 1173 was one better than her career-best against West Virginia.
Taking the Next Step
After back-to-back sixth place finishes in 2019 and 2020, Ole Miss has been on an upward climb every season. In 2021, the Rebels took fourth place, in 2022, the Rebels grabbed third place, and last season earned a program high second place in the conference tournament. The Rebels look to continue the trend by taking the GARC title this year.
Making it Count
Katie Tedeschi countered smallbore for the first time all season against Akron and made it count. The junior transfer fired a season-high 582 in smallbore and 595 in air rifle for an 1177 aggregate. The air rifle score was just one below her career-high 596 when she played for N.C. State. Tedeschi is one of the six Rebels traveling to the GARC Championships.
SEC Legend Ali Weisz
Two-time All-American Ali Weisz competed all four years as an individual qualifier at the NCAA Championships. In 2014, Weisz became the first freshman in program history to qualify for the NCAA Championships and competed in air rifle, finishing 16th out of 48 shooters with a 587. She qualified for smallbore as a sophomore in 2015. As a junior, Weisz qualified for the NCAAs once again in air rifle and went on to finish third, earning a bronze medal with a 593. An active-duty member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit since 2020, Weisz posted her first international victory at the 2019 Pan American Games, and two years later, she had a solid showing in the Tokyo Olympics. Weisz won the women's 10-meter air rifle event at the 2022 ISSF World, becoming the first U.S. woman to win an individual world title in a rifle event since 1979. She also secured the United States a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Rebs on Socials
For more information on Ole Miss rifle, follow the Rebels on Facebook (OleMissRifle), Twitter (@OleMissRifle), Instagram (@OleMissRifle), and at OleMissSports.com.
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