Rifle Finishes 2026 NCAA Championships in 4th Place

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky rifle team finished third in air rifle and fourth place overall at the 2026 NCAA Rifle National Championships. The two-day event was hosted by Ohio State University inside the Covelli Center.

Kentucky posted a 2383 team score in air rifle to finish third overall in the discipline. Adding UK’s 2353 smallbore the Wildcats finished with a 4736 team score for fourth overall. WVU won the national championship, followed by TCU and Ole Miss.

Sophomore Liz Probst finished fifth overall at the event, while junior Braden Peiser was sixth overall.

“Proud of the team and all that they accomplished this season,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “Obviously, not the result that we wanted here overall, but that happens. It was great to watch Sofia and Martin in their final collegiate matches and we thank them for all they have meant to our program.”

In air rifle, Probst led Kentucky with a 598 and 52 centers, while senior Sofia Ceccarello posted a 597 with 53 centers. Peiser, who won the smallbore individual national championships Friday, posted a 594 with 49 centers. Sophomore Sam Adkins and senior Martin Voss wrapped up the scoring. Adkins shot a 594 with 43 centers, while Voss scored a 586 with 37 centers.

Kentucky is one of the most decorated programs in NCAA rifle history, with four national titles – 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2022 and seven runner-up finishes and 25 top-five finishes.

The fourth-place overall finish concludes a memorable 38th season for Kentucky under head coach Harry Mullins.UK qualified for the NCAA Championships first overall after tying and setting the NCAA record for aggregate team score, becoming the first program in NCAA history to break 4760.