For the first time since 2017, the West Virginia rifle team is national champions. After entering the final day of play in third-place, the Mountaineers have earned their 20th title in program history.

The WVU athletic department captured its 22nd overall national championship on Saturday when the Mountaineer rifle team climbed back to the top of the sport. West Virginia edged out Kentucky to secure the program’s 20 national title.

West Virginia claimed the overall 2025 NC rifle national team title, outscoring runnerups Kentucky. Alaska Fairbank swept the smallbore event claiming the team smallbore title and individual smallbore title by Cecelia Ossi.

The first day of the 2025 NCAA Rifle Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, is in the books, and WVU already has one podium finish to its name. The Mountaineers ended Day One in third place with a 2350 score in the smallbore portion of the event.