As the UTEP Miners' rifle team sets its sights on a challenging match this Saturday, the stakes are as high as the altitude in Colorado Springs. Not just a figurative uphill battle, but also a literal elevation change awaits the No. 15-ranked Miners as they prepare to face the No. 7 Air Force Academy Falcons in their inaugural road test of the season. Per UTEP Athletics, the showdown is set for an 8:45 a.m. MT starts with the smallbore event, followed by air rifle at the U.S. Air Force Academy this weekend.
The Miners are coming off a strong home performance against Ole Miss, where they accumulated a score of 4668, splitting their talents between 2306 in smallbore and 2362 in air rifle. In contrast, the Rebels managed a match-high 4735. UTEP sophomore Carlee Valenta led her team with an aggregate score of 1173, placing fifth overall. This season, she has made an impact with an air rifle average tied for 4th nationally and a respectable 37th in aggregate average, according to statistics released before the meet. These numbers are not just figures on the page; they're a testament to the hard work and precision of these student athletes.
Meanwhile, the Air Force is kicking off their 2025-26 season with significant expectations, riding the wave of last season's success, which saw it finish 7th at the NCAA Championships. UTEP Athletics notes that it was the third-highest national meet score in the Falcons' program history, setting a bar for the athletes donning the blue this year.
