Peiser First Overall, Probst Earns Bronze as UK Finishes 2nd at GARCs
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a disappointing showing in smallbore Saturday, the University of Kentucky rifle team put together a gutsy performance Sunday, winning the air rifle team championship to finish second overall at the 2026 Great America Rifle Conference Championships in Army West Point.
Kentucky posted a 2385 team score in air rifle, which was the best of the day at the event. The high score helped Kentucky climb the leaderboard from fourth after Saturday to a second-place finish overall with a 4730 team score. West Virginia won the title with a 4740.
Kentucky was paced in air rifle by sophomores Sam Adkins and Liz Probst and freshman Jacob St. Hilaire, who each scored a 597 to get into the eight-person individual final. In the final Probst finished third, while Adkins was sixth and St. Hilaire was seventh.
Overall, Braden Peiser won the overall performer award with a 1192 aggregate score. Peiser scored a 597 in smallbore Saturday and claimed the gold medal in the individual final. He posted a 595 in air rifle Sunday, missing the individual final but two points.
“I said yesterday that I was anxious to see how we responded to Saturday’s challenges and we did a great job overall. To place three in the individual final was awesome, especially proud of Jacob and the work he has been putting in,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “I hope the team remembers Saturday and the adversity and how we handled it and when they get in tough moments remember days like today and who we are and what we can be.”
In air rifle, Kentucky was paced by Adkins, Probst and St. Hilaire, who each shot 597s. Freshman Elisa Boozer posted a 596, while Peiser earned a 595. Senior Brandon Evans scored a 590, followed by senior Martin Voss with a 587.
Boozer, senior AJ Hotko, junior Emily Marne and sophomore Hannah Todd competed Sunday in smallbore. Boozer posted a 575, while Todd shot a 566, Marne a 563 and Hotko a 562.
Kentucky will return to action March 13-14 at the NCAA Championships in Columbus, Ohio. The two-day competition will begin Friday, March 13 with smallbore, followed air rifle on Saturday, March 14. Live targets, a live stream and a NCAA Scorecard will be available online at UKathletics.com.
