Ceccarello, Peiser Break Records as No. 1 Rifle Wins Tri-Match
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Junior Sofia Ceccarello earned a NCAA record perfect 600 in air rifle while sophomore Braden Peiser tied a school record with a 597 in smallbore to lead the No. 1 University of Kentucky rifle to another tri-match victory over Akron and Air Force on Sunday at the USA Olympic Shooting Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
On top of the individual records, UK posted a team aggregate score of 4748, which was a season best and the third-highest team score in the nation this season. The high mark was good enough to earn the victory for Kentucky over Air Force, who scored a 4720, and Akron, who shot a 4707.
“So proud of Sofia for hitting that 600 mark! That is something she has been working so hard to accomplish and it really speaks to her hardwork and training that she was about to do that today,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “Braden was so impressive today too with his 597 in smallbore and then the same in air rifle. Scoring a 1194 aggregate is very hard to do and I am so impressed with his poise today. Overall, it was a great day for the team and a perfect way to wrap up the fall season. We will break for the holidays now and then regroup in January.”
Ceccarello’s 600 in air rifle is the first perfect score of her collegiate career. She is one of four athletes in the nation this season to score 600 in air rifle. This is the fourth straight match that Ceccarello has scored a 599 or higher. The most impressive part of her 600 score was that it was accomplished by 59 centers, meaning Ceccarello hit bull’s-eye in 59 of her 60 shots. The 59 centers makes her 600 a NCAA record with the pervious record holder hitting 58 centers.
Peiser had a record-breaking day as well, scoring a 597 in smallbore, which tied a school record and is the highest smallbore score in the nation this season. He added to that a 597 air rifle giving him a 1194 aggregate, which ties the highest aggregate score in the nation this season and is one off the school-record aggregate score.
Peiser took home the top individual honor from the match, followed closely by Ceccarello, who scored a 1192. Ceccarello’s aggregate ties the second highest this season by anyone in the nation.
As a team, Kentucky posted a season-best 2360 in smallbore, which tied the second-highest smallbore team score in the country this season. UK’s 2388 air rifle team score was also season best and tied the fourth-highest air rifle team score in the country. Overall, UK scored a 4748, which was its highest team aggregate of the season and the third highest team score in the nation this season.
In smallbore, UK was paced by Peiser’s 597, scoring a 199 in kneeling, prone and standing with 47 total centers. Ceccarello posted a 592 in smallbore with 38 centers, scoring 199 in kneeling and prone and 194 in standing. Freshman Brandon Evans scored a career-best 591 in smallbore with 34 centers, earning a 197 in kneeling, 199 in prone and 105 in standing. Fellow freshman Sam Adkins posted a 192 in kneeling, 197 in prone and 198 in standing for a 587 total with 34 centers, while junior Martin Voss scored a 195 in kneeling, 200 in prone and 189 in standing for a 584 with 31 centers. Senior Allison Buesseler scored a 583 with 28 centers, scoring 192 in kneeling, 200 in prone and 191 in standing. Freshman Liz Probst completed the rotation with a 196 in kneeling, 187 in prone and 190 in standing for a 573 with 33 centers.
In air rifle, Kentucky was paced obviously by Ceccarello’s 600, followed by 597s from Peiser, Probst and Adkins. Voss scored a 594, while Buesseler earned a 592 and Evans a 586.
This weekend’s tri matches complete the 2024 schedule for Kentucky. The 2025 slate begins with a dual match on Jan. 12 with Georgia Southern in Lexington, before traveling Jan. 19-20 to Murray, Kentucky, to compete in the Withrow Invitational and vs. Memphis. Kentucky will travel to North Georgia on Jan. 26 for a dual match before two matches vs. Alaska in Fairbanks, Alaska on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. UK wraps the regular season on Feb. 8 against WVU in Lexington before hosting its NCAA Qualifier on Feb. 22.
Postseason competition begins March 1-2 with the Great America Rifle Conference Championships in Morgantown, West Virginia. The NCAA Rifle Championships return to Lexington for the first time since 2020. The two-day event will see the best air rifle and smallbore competitors in the nation compete on the Historic Memorial Coliseum floor. The smallbore competition will be March 14 followed by air rifle competition on March 15. Ticket information and full schedule of events for the championships will be announced later.
For more information on the Kentucky rifle team, visit UKathletics.com or follow UKRifle on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
