Rifle
Will Shaner - Rifle - University of Kentucky Athletics

WillShaner

  • class Junior
  • Hometown Colorado Springs, Colo.
  • High school Colorado Springs HS

Career Marks: Smallbore (596), Air Rifle (599)

  • Qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for Team USA in men’s 10m air rifle.
  • Became the first American male to win gold in men’s 10m air rifle, setting an Olympic record score (251.6) in Tokyo.
  • ISSF World Cup Gold Medalist in men’s 10m air rifle.

Senior (2021-22)

  • CRCA Senior Shooter of the Year
  • CRCA All-America First Team Combined
  • CRCA All-America First Team Air Rifle
  • CRCA All-America First Team Smallbore
  • All-GARC First-Team Combined
  • All-GARC First-Team Smallbore
  • All-GARC First-Team Air Rifle
  • NCAA Individual Smallbore National Champion
  • Posted a 592 in smallbore and 595 in air rifle at the NCAA Championships, helping Kentucky to the national team title
  • 1186.454 aggregate average, earning a 589.818 in smallbore and 596.636 in air rifle
  • Set a career high smallbore score this season when he posted a 596 at Army, while he has tied his career best air rifle score of 599 twice
  • Made the GARC Championships Air Rifle Individual Final

Junior (2020-21)

  • NCAA Air Rifle Individual National Runner-Up
  • CRCA All-American First Team Overall
  • CRCA All-American First Team Smallbore
  • CRCA All-American First Team Air Rifle
  • All-GARC First-Team Combined
  • All-GARC First-Team Smallbore
  • All-GARC First-Team Air Rifle
  • Averaged a 589.25 in smallbore and 595.667 in air rifle for an overall season aggregate of 1184.917.
  • Set a new career high in smallbore of 595 at Murray State.
  • Tied career high in air rifle at 599 at Ole Miss.
  • Season high aggregate score of 1191 twice during the season.
  • Scored a 595 and a 594 in smallbore during the year – one of two shooters in the nation to accomplish that feat.
  • One of three shooters in the nation to record a 1191 or higher aggregate score this season.

Sophomore (2019-20)

  • CRCA All-American First Team Overall
  • All-GARC First-Team Combined
  • All-GARC First-Team Smallbore
  • All-GARC First-Team Air Rifle
  • Won the Gold Medal at the GARC Championships in air rifle
  • Had two aggregate scores of 1190 or above on the year, one of two NCAA shooters to accomplish that
  • Best smallbore score of his career was a 594 on Nov. 8 vs. Ole Miss, which was second-best smallbore score of the season nationally
  • Best air rifle score of 599 was accomplishment multiple times, including at the GARC Championships and in UK’s win at West Virginia
  • One of four NCAA shooters with a 599 in air rifle

Freshman (2018-19)

  • All-American First Team Combined
  • All-American First Team Smallbore
  • All-American First Team Air Rifle
  • CRCA Rookie of the Year
  • GARC Rookie of the Year
  • All-GARC First-Team Combined
  • All-GARC First-Team Smallbore
  • All-GARC First-Team Air Rifle

Prior to UK

  • 2016 US National Junior Air Rifle Champion
  • Silver Medalist in both air rifle and smallbore at the 2017 and 2018 Junior Olympics
  • Claimed the silver medal in men’s open air rifle at the 2018 US National Championships
  • Won the 2016 Junior Olympic Championship in men’s air rifle
  • Member of the US National Team
  • Competed on the U.S. Junior National Team for five years
  • Finished second in men’s prone and fifth in three-position rifle at the 2016 championships
  • Holds three international gold medals in air rifle and one in men’s prone
  • Has competed on the international level at the Junior World Cup, Junior World Championships, World Cup and World Championships

Personal

  • Nickname: Will
  • Major: Economics
  • Birthday: April 25
  • Birthplace: Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Parents: Gregory and Victoria Shaner
  • Siblings: Younger sister, Brianna
  • Notes: Was a part of the Honor Society in High School

Shaner chose Kentucky because … “Kentucky gave the best chances for success in school and rifle.”

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