Braden Peiser Earns Two Golds at Junior Pan-Am Games

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky rifle star Braden Peiser had a fantastic showing for Team USA at the 2025 Junior Pan-America Games last week in Asuncion, Paraguay.

To start the games, Peiser was chosen as the male flag bearer for Team USA, waving the stars and stripes into opening ceremonies. He followed by winning gold medals in two events, performing at an elite level in both qualification and finals.

His first gold of the week came in men’s 10m air rifle, where he posted a Junior Pan-Am Games record qualifying score and then followed with a Junior Pan-Am Games record score in the final to claim the top spot.

His second gold of the week came in mixed team air rifle with fellow American Isabella Baldwin. The two qualified first overall just a few points ahead of Team Mexico and then dominated in the gold medal match, defeating Team Mexico 17-7 to claim the top honor.

Peiser was a star for Kentucky last season, earning unanimous Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association All-America honors in air rifle, smallbore and aggregate. Peiser led Kentucky in smallbore average and aggregate average, while he was second on the team in air rifle average.

The native of San Angelo, Texas, helped Kentucky to a national runner’s up finish at the 2025 NCAA Rifle National Championships. He posted a 599 during air rifle competition, making the air rifle individual final, where he finished second after a one-shot shoot off.

For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.