It's a Texas-sized showdown at the UTEP Rifle Range this Sunday, where the No. 15 UTEP rifle team is set to lock sights with No. 3 TCU. Fans can step into the range for free, with doors opening bright and early at 6:45 a.m. MT. The first relay is slated to start at the crisp hour of 7:45 a.m. MT, with the second not until 12:15 p.m. MT, as stated by UTEP Miners News.
Last weekend, the Miners notched a record-setting performance at the U.S. Air Force Academy, popping off a program-record 2,372 in air rifle. It was a nerve-racking face-off that ended with UTEP trailing by a hair against No. 7 Air Force, 4690-4689. The combined efforts in smallbore and air rifle surpassed their previous top mark, a feat worth noting, and one that's revving up excitement for this weekend's match, according to UTEP Miners News.
With only two matches into the season, UTEP is averaging an impressive 2,311.5 in smallbore, and their air rifle score is flying high at an average of 2,367, bringing the team's aggregate to 4,678.5. Why, Carlee Valenta is a crucial strut in this well-oiled machine, hitting averages of 580.5 and 598.5 in smallbore and air rifle, respectively. These fiery starts have catapulted Valenta among the top ranks in the nation, where she’s currently 4th in air rifle and 33rd in aggregate, as detailed by UTEP's stats, showing that individual prowess goes hand in hand with team effort.
