WVU Rifle Team Wins 21st National Championship

Mountaineers complete comeback to finish on top for second straight season.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 9:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The West Virginia University rifle team won the NCAA Rifle National Championship for the 21st time in program history after a comeback victory on the final day of competition in Columbus, Ohio. WVU overcame a three-point deficit to beat runner-up TCU and third-place Kentucky, setting an NCAA Championship record with a 4748 aggregate score.

Why it matters

The WVU rifle team's 21st national title cements its status as one of the most dominant collegiate rifle programs in the country. The Mountaineers have now finished in the top two at the NCAA Championships 31 times, including 21 championships and 10 runner-up finishes.

The details

WVU entered the final day of competition in fourth place but rallied with a 2395 air rifle score, matching the NCAA record. The Mountaineers were led by senior shooter Jared Lake, who became just the fifth WVU athlete to be named the NCAA National Championships Most Outstanding Performer. Lake finished with the top overall mark of 1194.

  • The 2026 NCAA Rifle National Championship competition took place over two days inside the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio.
  • WVU overcame a three-point deficit on the final day of competition to claim the title.

The players

Jared Lake

A senior shooter for the WVU rifle team who was named the NCAA National Championships Most Outstanding Performer, becoming just the fifth Mountaineer to earn the honor.

Camryn Camp

A member of the WVU rifle team who fired a 598 in the opening session of the championship.

Lauri Syrja

A member of the WVU rifle team who scored a 594 in the opening session of the championship.

Jennifer Kocher

A member of the WVU rifle team who finished in seventh place in the air rifle finals.

Oceanne Muller

A member of the WVU rifle team who finished in fourth place in the air rifle finals.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The WVU rifle team will look to defend its national championship title next season as it aims for a third straight NCAA Rifle National Championship.

The takeaway

The WVU rifle team's 21st national championship solidifies its status as one of the premier collegiate rifle programs in the country, with a long history of sustained excellence and the ability to overcome deficits to claim titles.