COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University Rifle Team competed with the University of Akron (4693) as part of the nationwide NCAA qualifier matches over the weekend. The Buckeyes fired a team score of 4695, their second-highest score of the season only behind the 4698 fired at Army last weekend.
The score of 4695 was added to the team’s ‘3 Score Average’ of 4695.33 giving the team an NCAA Qualification total score of 9390.33 which was the highest in program history. The team’s total NCAA Qualification Score will see them finish the year in 9th place which is the team’s highest finishing position since their 7th place finish in 2018. The rankings for places 9-28 can be seen here: http://ncaarifle.org/Home/NCAATeamSelections. Places 1-8 will be determined at the NCAA Rifle Championships which will be held March 11 & 12.
At the Qualifier, Ohio State fired a smallbore team score of 2329 led by Viktor Kiss who posted a match-high score of 587. He was followed closely by Derek Keiser and Ariel Hall who fired scores of 585 and 581 respectively. Nathan Wehrlen (576) and Philip Becker (574) rounded out team scoring. Joel Potts led the way for Ohio State’s individuals with a score of 572. He was followed by Natalie Katsuyama (569), Frank Steyn (565), Annabelle Stanec (564), Annie Tomb (562), Chandler Deaton (562), and Eva Horgan (554).
In air rifle the Buckeyes fired a team score of 2366 led by a career-best equaling score of 597 from Derek Keiser. He was followed by Viktor Kiss and Ariel Hall who both fired scores of 593 while Annie Tomb and Nathan Wehrlen fired scores of 583 to round out individual scoring. Chandler Deaton led the way for the individuals with a career-best 589. She was matched by Philip Becker who also fired a 589 while Joel Potts (582), Annabelle Stanec (576) Natalie Katsuyama (576), Eva Horgan (575), and Frank Steyn (575) rounded out individual scoring.
Ohio State’s individuals will await the official selection of teams and individuals at the NCAA Rifle Selection Show on Tuesday, February 22.
As a team this season the Buckeyes set many milestones including:
Coach Tanoue: “The team had a really fantastic performance at the qualifier on Saturday and our score of 4695 finished off the season with another great score, the fifth-highest in the history of the program. We also saw some great individual performances throughout the team and I am excited to see some our individuals selected for the NCAA Championships on Tuesday. Overall for the season, I am so proud of this team and what they have achieved. They performed at a very high level all year and showed amazing consistency and toughness down the stretch, shooting seven matches in six weekends to finish the season. I am also so thankful to our three seniors, Annie Tomb, Ariel Hall, and Annabelle Stanec. They have both individually and as a group left their mark on the history of this team and they will be greatly missed!”
