Ole Miss Rifle Faces NCAA Qualifier to Secure Spot in Championships
Oxford, Miss. — The Ole Miss rifle team is set to compete in the NCAA Qualifier on Feb. 21 at the Ole Miss Rifle Range. The outcome of the match against No. 11 Memphis will determine if the Rebels advance to the 2026 NCAA Rifle Championships, according to university officials.
The qualifier score, which will be added to each team’s three highest regular-season scores, will decide the eight teams that qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Ole Miss enters the event with its highest top-three scores in program history, including a 4746 at Murray State, 4745 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and 4744 at TCU. These scores have created an average of 4745, placing the Rebels in the top eight before Saturday’s competition.
All 10 Rebels will shoot during the qualifier, starting at 9 a.m. The first relay will determine the team’s score and match winner. Following a 30-minute break, the remaining shooters will compete in a second relay for additional match reps.
Ole Miss head coach Will Shaner, in his first season leading the team, said the team’s scores have been strong this season. The Rebels have set multiple program records, including a program-best air rifle score of 1190 against Memphis. Recent performances have kept Ole Miss among the top teams nationally, with shooters such as Audrey Gogniat and Gracie Dinh leading the way.
Gogniat, who was crowned the PRC Air Rifle individual champion for the second consecutive season, fired a perfect score in the conference tournament. Dinh recently set personal bests and became just the third Rebel in program history to shoot a perfect air rifle score of 600. The team’s success has been complemented by their rankings, with the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association placing Ole Miss fifth nationally.
The Rebels’ roster includes two juniors and six sophomores, along with two freshmen. The program has enjoyed a productive fall season and aims to carry that momentum into the postseason. The team’s goal is to secure its place at the NCAA Championships and continue its recent success in national rankings and head-to-head matchups.
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