No. 10 UTEP Rifle Sets Program Record in Win Over No. 16 Ohio State
EL PASO, Texas – No. 10 UTEP Rifle closed its fall slate in dominant fashion Saturday afternoon, defeating No. 16 Ohio State 4720–4705 at the UTEP Rifle Range. The Miners’ 4720 aggregate marked a program record, and UTEP outshot the Buckeyes in both smallbore and air rifle to secure the milestone victory.
UTEP posted a 2342–2334 advantage in smallbore and followed with a 2378–2371 performance in air rifle, continuing their upward trajectory in both disciplines.
Sophomore Carlee Valenta delivered the top performance of the match, firing an 1186 aggregate. She also matched her personal best in smallbore with a 592, the top score of the day.
Kameron Wells followed closely behind, ranking second overall with an 1181 aggregate and matching her personal-best smallbore score of 590.
In air rifle, Kennedy Wells shined with a personal-best 598, the highest score in the event. She finished third on the squad with a 1178 aggregate, giving UTEP three shooters above 1175.
Ohio State was led by Paige Hallowell, who fired an 1180 aggregate to finish third overall. John Hamilton paced the Buckeyes in smallbore with a 586, ranking third in the event, while Hallowell topped OSU in air rifle with a 595, the second-highest mark of the match.
Additional strong performances included:
- Xan Keel – 1173 aggregate
- Julia Czernik – 1172 aggregate
- Paige Hildebrandt – 1164 aggregate
| SMALLBORE | AIR RIFLE |
| Czernik – 579 * Hildebrandt – 578 Keel – 580 * Valenta – 592 * Ka. Wells – 590 * Ke. Wells – 580 **Counter | Czernik – 593 * Hildebrandt – 586 Keel – 593 * Valenta – 594 * Ka. Wells – 591 * Ke. Wells – 598 **Counter |
UP NEXTUTEP will begin its spring slate on January 24, when the Miners host Air Force at the UTEP Rifle Range in El Paso, Texas.