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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, March 8
Morgantown, W. Va.
8 AM
Ole Miss
at
NCAA Championships
Rifle Set for the Big Stage of the NCAA Championships
3/7/2024 | Rifle
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – Ole Miss rifle scores continue to increase at the right time as they get ready for the NCAA Rifle Championships in Morgantown, West Virginia, from March 8-9. The Rebels aim for their first program title in their fifth overall appearance.
The Rebels and the seven other NCAA programs to qualify will face off in smallbore the first day and air rifle the next day for a chance at an NCAA Championship. Each team brings five players to counter both events.
On the Line
Coach Rachel Martin
Friday (Smallbore)
Relay 1 | Kristen Derting, Martina Gratz, Lea Horvath at 8 a.m. CT
Relay 2 | Emma Pereira, Katie Tedeschi at 10:45 a.m. CT
Finals | Following the end of Relay 2
Saturday (Air Rifle)
Relay 1 | Kristen Derting, Martina Gratz, Lea Horvath at 8 a.m. CT
Relay 2 | Emma Pereira, Katie Tedeschi at 10:15 a.m. CT
Finals | Following the end of Relay 2
Scouting the Opponent
Air Force
The Falcons, led by 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Launi Meili in her 17th season, earned the third seed for the NCAA Championships after shooting a school record 4739 qualifier score. It marks the 10th consecutive appearance in the tournament and 22nd in program history.
Led by Lauren Hurley in air rifle and aggregate scoring, averaging an 1180.6 aggregate and 594.6 air rifle. The junior shot a career-high 592 in smallbore and 1186 aggregate at the qualifiers to put the Falcons in position. Victoria Leppert also shot career-best at the qualifiers with an 1183 aggregate, 595 in smallbore, and 594 in air rifle. Senior Morgan Kreb is a consistent force in smallbore, averaging 586.6 per match, which is a team-high.
Alaska Fairbanks
The defending national champions are led by Will Anti in his fourth season and look to defend their title as the fifth seed. The Nanooks average a match score of 4723.4, with smallbore and air rifle averages of 2342.1 and 2381.3, respectively.
Rachel Charles built off her freshmen campaign by leading the team in all disciplines. The sophomore averages an aggregate score of 1185.3, along with a 588.7 in smallbore and 596.5 in air rifle. The Nanooks sport five other shooters averaging above a 590 in air rifle.
Kentucky
The Wildcats, led by four-time national championship coach Harry Mullins, qualified for the NCAA Championships as the fourth seed and took second at the GARC Championships. Kentucky averages 2341.9 in smallbore and 2381.1 in air rifle for a season aggregate average of 4723.
Sophomore Sofia Ceccarello leads Kentucky this season in both smallbore and air rifle averages. She is averaging 587.5 in smallbore and 597.8 in air rifle for an aggregate average of 1185.63. However, freshman Braden Peiser stole the show at the GARC Championships, taking the air rifle crown and finishing third in smallbore. Peiser qualified for both finals, shooting 597 in both disciplines.
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 NCAA Championships after three consecutive record-breaking weekends to end the regular season, moving from 12th place to seventh in the standings.
Freshman Isabella Baldwin is the front-runner in all three disciplines for the Navy. Baldwin averages 1181.6 aggregate, 588.3 smallbore, and 593.4 air rifle. Veterans Marleigh Duncan and Clarissa Layland are also significant contributors, averaging above 592 in air rifle.
Nebraska
The Cornhuskers, led by five-time All-American Mindy Miles in her third season, are headed to their second straight NCAA Championships. The team averages a score of 4707.2 per match, a smallbore average of 2333.3, and an air rifle of 2373.9.
Nebraska returns four shooters from last season's sixth-place finishing team. Cecelia Ossi claimed the national title in smallbore and looks to defend her crown this year. Ossi leads the team in smallbore and aggregate average, shooting an 1181.8 per match. She is second in air rifle with a 94.3 average however, Emma Rhode tops the team with a 594.5 air rifle average.
TCU
The Horned Frogs, led by Karen Munoz in her 20th season, are the second seed heading into their 18th straight NCAA Championship appearance. The team is second in the nation in smallbore, air rifle, and aggregate averages, shooting a score of 4733.9 per match.
Stephanie Grundoe and Katie Zaun are top-three in the nation in aggregate scoring average. Grundsoe averages an 1188.5, and Zaun averages an 1188.2 per match. They are also top-three shooters in smallbore and 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 an NCAA record 4759 at the GARC Championships to hold onto their conference crown. The Mountaineers are the only remaining undefeated team at 12-0 and are looking for their first national championship since 2017.
The team is led by fifth-year Mary Tucker, who averages just under an 1190 aggregate with an 1189.4. She also leads in smallbore and air rifle averages. Molly McGhin is not far behind in air rifle average, shooting 596.3 per match. Matt Sanchez and freshman Griffin Lake averaged 594.8 in air rifle. Sanchez is second in smallbore average with a 590.
NCAA Championship History
The Rebels are heading to the program's fifth NCAA Championship appearance and fourth straight. Ole Miss rifle's first-ever championship appearance came in 2006, where OMAF Hall of Famer Jennifer Lorenzen and Shannon Wilson guided the team to a sixth-place finish. After a 15-year drought, the Rebels returned to the big stage in 2021. Despite the long wait, Ole Miss earned their best finish to this day of third. The Rebels would finish in fourth in the following two seasons, shooting a 4713 in both.
The Lineup
Four NCAA veterans and one newcomer take center stage for Ole Miss Rifle. Kristen Derting, Martina Gratz, Lea Horvath, and Emma Pereira were in the same situation for the Rebels last season. In 2023, Derting led Ole Miss with an 1182 aggregate and tied with two other Rebels with a 588 in smallbore. Lea Horvath and Emma Pereira also hit a 588 and, due to centered shots, qualified for the smallbore final. Pereira, as a freshman, took seventh, and Horvath grabbed fifth. Gratz was a massive boost in air rifle, firing a 595.
In her first year after transferring from N.C. State, Katie Tedeschi joins the Navy and Red for her first-ever NCAA appearance. The junior earned an alternate spot her freshman season but never competed. Tedeschi has always shot air rifle well; however, her smallbore shooting earned her a spot as an NCAA counter. She has fired a 580 or higher in the last three matches.
Becoming a Yearly Tradition
Ole Miss rifle secured its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance after an excellent showing at the 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 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.
Finals Takeover
Pereira advanced to the smallbore and air rifle finals on her way to the sixth-highest aggregate score of the GARC Championships. The sophomore shot both guns on the first day, firing a 597 air rifle first, then a 589 in smallbore later. Pereira took eighth place in her first two conference finals of her career.
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 finished 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 and the seven other NCAA programs to qualify will face off in smallbore the first day and air rifle the next day for a chance at an NCAA Championship. Each team brings five players to counter both events.
On the Line
- Rebels locked in their fourth consecutive NCAA Championship selection.
- Took third place at the GARC Championships, the third straight season with a top-three finish.
- Emma Pereira qualified for the smallbore and air rifle finals.
- Coach Martin has taken her teams to the big stage all three seasons as a head coach (two with Nebraska).
- 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.
- Kristen Derting tied her career-high air rifle score of 598 against Army.
- Shot two top-five program marks in match score, three 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 gold medal for men's air rifle 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
Friday (Smallbore)
Relay 1 | Kristen Derting, Martina Gratz, Lea Horvath at 8 a.m. CT
Relay 2 | Emma Pereira, Katie Tedeschi at 10:45 a.m. CT
Finals | Following the end of Relay 2
Saturday (Air Rifle)
Relay 1 | Kristen Derting, Martina Gratz, Lea Horvath at 8 a.m. CT
Relay 2 | Emma Pereira, Katie Tedeschi at 10:15 a.m. CT
Finals | Following the end of Relay 2
Scouting the Opponent
Air Force
The Falcons, led by 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist Launi Meili in her 17th season, earned the third seed for the NCAA Championships after shooting a school record 4739 qualifier score. It marks the 10th consecutive appearance in the tournament and 22nd in program history.
Led by Lauren Hurley in air rifle and aggregate scoring, averaging an 1180.6 aggregate and 594.6 air rifle. The junior shot a career-high 592 in smallbore and 1186 aggregate at the qualifiers to put the Falcons in position. Victoria Leppert also shot career-best at the qualifiers with an 1183 aggregate, 595 in smallbore, and 594 in air rifle. Senior Morgan Kreb is a consistent force in smallbore, averaging 586.6 per match, which is a team-high.
Alaska Fairbanks
The defending national champions are led by Will Anti in his fourth season and look to defend their title as the fifth seed. The Nanooks average a match score of 4723.4, with smallbore and air rifle averages of 2342.1 and 2381.3, respectively.
Rachel Charles built off her freshmen campaign by leading the team in all disciplines. The sophomore averages an aggregate score of 1185.3, along with a 588.7 in smallbore and 596.5 in air rifle. The Nanooks sport five other shooters averaging above a 590 in air rifle.
Kentucky
The Wildcats, led by four-time national championship coach Harry Mullins, qualified for the NCAA Championships as the fourth seed and took second at the GARC Championships. Kentucky averages 2341.9 in smallbore and 2381.1 in air rifle for a season aggregate average of 4723.
Sophomore Sofia Ceccarello leads Kentucky this season in both smallbore and air rifle averages. She is averaging 587.5 in smallbore and 597.8 in air rifle for an aggregate average of 1185.63. However, freshman Braden Peiser stole the show at the GARC Championships, taking the air rifle crown and finishing third in smallbore. Peiser qualified for both finals, shooting 597 in both disciplines.
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 NCAA Championships after three consecutive record-breaking weekends to end the regular season, moving from 12th place to seventh in the standings.
Freshman Isabella Baldwin is the front-runner in all three disciplines for the Navy. Baldwin averages 1181.6 aggregate, 588.3 smallbore, and 593.4 air rifle. Veterans Marleigh Duncan and Clarissa Layland are also significant contributors, averaging above 592 in air rifle.
Nebraska
The Cornhuskers, led by five-time All-American Mindy Miles in her third season, are headed to their second straight NCAA Championships. The team averages a score of 4707.2 per match, a smallbore average of 2333.3, and an air rifle of 2373.9.
Nebraska returns four shooters from last season's sixth-place finishing team. Cecelia Ossi claimed the national title in smallbore and looks to defend her crown this year. Ossi leads the team in smallbore and aggregate average, shooting an 1181.8 per match. She is second in air rifle with a 94.3 average however, Emma Rhode tops the team with a 594.5 air rifle average.
TCU
The Horned Frogs, led by Karen Munoz in her 20th season, are the second seed heading into their 18th straight NCAA Championship appearance. The team is second in the nation in smallbore, air rifle, and aggregate averages, shooting a score of 4733.9 per match.
Stephanie Grundoe and Katie Zaun are top-three in the nation in aggregate scoring average. Grundsoe averages an 1188.5, and Zaun averages an 1188.2 per match. They are also top-three shooters in smallbore and 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 an NCAA record 4759 at the GARC Championships to hold onto their conference crown. The Mountaineers are the only remaining undefeated team at 12-0 and are looking for their first national championship since 2017.
The team is led by fifth-year Mary Tucker, who averages just under an 1190 aggregate with an 1189.4. She also leads in smallbore and air rifle averages. Molly McGhin is not far behind in air rifle average, shooting 596.3 per match. Matt Sanchez and freshman Griffin Lake averaged 594.8 in air rifle. Sanchez is second in smallbore average with a 590.
NCAA Championship History
The Rebels are heading to the program's fifth NCAA Championship appearance and fourth straight. Ole Miss rifle's first-ever championship appearance came in 2006, where OMAF Hall of Famer Jennifer Lorenzen and Shannon Wilson guided the team to a sixth-place finish. After a 15-year drought, the Rebels returned to the big stage in 2021. Despite the long wait, Ole Miss earned their best finish to this day of third. The Rebels would finish in fourth in the following two seasons, shooting a 4713 in both.
The Lineup
Four NCAA veterans and one newcomer take center stage for Ole Miss Rifle. Kristen Derting, Martina Gratz, Lea Horvath, and Emma Pereira were in the same situation for the Rebels last season. In 2023, Derting led Ole Miss with an 1182 aggregate and tied with two other Rebels with a 588 in smallbore. Lea Horvath and Emma Pereira also hit a 588 and, due to centered shots, qualified for the smallbore final. Pereira, as a freshman, took seventh, and Horvath grabbed fifth. Gratz was a massive boost in air rifle, firing a 595.
In her first year after transferring from N.C. State, Katie Tedeschi joins the Navy and Red for her first-ever NCAA appearance. The junior earned an alternate spot her freshman season but never competed. Tedeschi has always shot air rifle well; however, her smallbore shooting earned her a spot as an NCAA counter. She has fired a 580 or higher in the last three matches.
Becoming a Yearly Tradition
Ole Miss rifle secured its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance after an excellent showing at the 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 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.
Finals Takeover
Pereira advanced to the smallbore and air rifle finals on her way to the sixth-highest aggregate score of the GARC Championships. The sophomore shot both guns on the first day, firing a 597 air rifle first, then a 589 in smallbore later. Pereira took eighth place in her first two conference finals of her career.
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 finished 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.
Players Mentioned
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