Kentucky Rifle claims back-to-back national titles; fourth in program history
Move over men’s basketball, the newest dynasty on campus is coming out of the rifle program.
On Saturday, Kentucky Rifle repeated as the NCAA Rifle National Champions at Clune Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Not only does it mark the second straight national title for UK, but it also equals the fourth in program history, all of which have come since 2011 under head coach Harry Mullins. Kentucky has now won national titles in 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2022, only the second coach in school history to achieve that mark, the other being Adolph Rupp.
It sure does smell like a dynasty…
Junior Mary Tucker and freshman Allison Buesseler powered UK to the historic victory. Tucker began Saturday with a strong score of 598 before Buesseler came through in crunch time with a perfect 10 final shots to seal the win for her Wildcats.
The title came as UK scored a 4739 team score, which is the best team score at the NCAA Championships in the 60-shot era. The previous best was UK’s 4731 it scored to win the title in 2021. The Wildcats were in a great position to earn the title after a 2360 smallbore team score on Friday. The Wildcats shot a 2379 air rifle on Saturday for the victory.
TCU finished second with a 4736, while Alaska Fairbanks was third at 4733. Ole Miss finished third with host Air Force finishing fifth, West Virginia sixth, Murray State seventh, and Navy eighth.
“I am very proud of the team and so happy to be bringing the national championship trophy back to Lexington,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said, according to the team’s press release. “For them to post that high smallbore score yesterday and follow it up with another great all-around performance today was impressive. Mary, Richard and Will each did their job in the first relay of posting high scores to set the tone. Then Allison was just fearless in the final relay to bring home the high score and secure the win.
“Although five athletes came with us to Colorado Springs, this championship was a team effort that could not have been achieved without all nine athletes on the team, our amazing assistant coach Rena Curvey and some fantastic support staff. Thanks to everyone and can’t wait to show off this trophy to Big Blue Nation.”
Kentucky becomes the first program to win back-to-back national titles since West Virginia won five straight from 2013-2017.
2022 NCAA RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM STANDINGS
1. Kentucky, 4739
2. TCU, 4736
3. Alaska Fairbanks, 4733
4. Ole Miss, 4713
5. Air Force, 4712
6. West Virginia, 4700
7. Murray State, 4687
8. Navy, 4681
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