The University of Kentucky rifle team came heartbreakingly close to its fifth national title on Saturday, finishing just one point shy of the championship at the 2025 NCAA Rifle National Championships. Despite a determined effort and strong performances from several Wildcats, Kentucky’s aggregate score of 4737 was narrowly bested by West Virginia’s 4738.
This marks Kentucky’s seventh runner-up finish in program history, adding another impressive chapter to the Wildcats’ decorated resume. Kentucky, which already boasts four national titles (2011, 2018, 2021, 2022), has now recorded 24 top-five finishes under legendary head coach Harry Mullins.
The Battle for the Title
Kentucky’s quest for another championship was led by sophomore Braden Peiser, who delivered a stellar performance in the air rifle competition. Peiser posted a 599, earning a spot in the individual air rifle final where he staged a dramatic comeback. Despite trailing for much of the final, he erased a 1.9-point deficit to tie the match on his last shot. However, he fell just short in a tense one-shot shoot-off against Ole Miss’ Audrey Gogniat, ultimately settling for the silver medal.
Peiser’s heroics weren’t enough to propel Kentucky past a resilient West Virginia squad. The Mountaineers posted a 2388 in air rifle, giving them the slight edge they needed to claim their first team national championship since 2017.
Wildcats Shine Despite Falling Short
Alongside Peiser’s brilliant performance, several Wildcats posted strong scores:
Sofia Ceccarello (Junior): 597 in air rifle, 591 in smallbore, with 51 centers.
Elizabeth Probst (Freshman): 595 in air rifle, 589 in smallbore, with 47 centers.
Sam Adkins (Freshman): 592 in air rifle, 583 in smallbore, with 46 centers.
Martin Voss (Junior): 588 in air rifle, 575 in smallbore, with 43 centers.
Kentucky’s air rifle team score of 2383 matched Ole Miss but trailed West Virginia by five points. In the smallbore competition, the Wildcats edged out the Mountaineers with a 2354 to 2350 score.
Heartfelt Reflections from Coach Mullins
Head coach Harry Mullins was full of praise for his team’s effort and growth throughout the season speaking to ukathletics.com.
“This group has done phenomenal things. We came into the championships ranked third and spent much of the year bouncing between third, fourth, fifth, and even sixth. The work they’ve put in is incredible, not just on the range but also in their personal growth. Coming up a point short is obviously disappointing, but the success of this group is undeniable. I’m incredibly proud of them and excited for what’s to come.”
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats’ future looks bright with a talented roster filled with underclassmen like Peiser and Probst already proving they can deliver on the biggest stage. With so much promise and determination, it’s only a matter of time before Kentucky rifle finds itself back on top.
But on this day, they were left wondering what might have been — just one point away from glory.