WVU Eyes Fourth Straight GARC Rifle Title at West Point

No. 1 Kentucky, No. 4 WVU and four other ranked NCAA rifle teams compete at the 2026 GARC Championship.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The 2026 Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Championship will take place at the Tronsrue Marksmanship Center at Army West Point on February 28 and March 1. The field features six nationally ranked NCAA rifle teams, including No. 1 Kentucky, No. 4 West Virginia, No. 7 Navy, No. 10 Memphis, No. 12 Akron, and No. 16 Army. West Virginia is the three-time defending GARC champion and is looking to claim its 18th conference title, while Kentucky enters as the tournament's top seed and the No. 1 overall team in the upcoming NCAA Rifle Championship.

Why it matters

The GARC Championship is a crucial tune-up event for the NCAA Rifle Championship, with three GARC schools - West Virginia, Kentucky, and Navy - set to compete at the national tournament. This weekend's competition will provide a glimpse into which teams and individuals are primed for success at the NCAA level.

The details

West Virginia is the heavy favorite, having won 14 of the last 16 GARC titles, including 10 in a row from 2010-2019. The Mountaineers are chasing their 18th conference championship and third straight regular season and tournament sweep. However, Kentucky's Braden Peiser, who tied the NCAA aggregate record earlier this season, will lead the Wildcats' bid to dethrone the defending champions. Other top individual performers to watch include Navy freshman Tyler Wee, Memphis junior Katrina Demerle, and Akron senior Natalia Siek.

  • The 2026 GARC Championship will take place on February 28 and March 1.
  • The NCAA Rifle Championship is scheduled for March 13-14 in Columbus, Ohio.

The players

West Virginia University

The three-time defending GARC champion and No. 4 ranked NCAA rifle team, seeking its 18th conference title.

University of Kentucky

The No. 1 ranked NCAA rifle team and the tournament's top seed, led by Braden Peiser who tied the NCAA aggregate record earlier this season.

Braden Peiser

A Kentucky shooter who recently tied the NCAA record aggregate score of 1198, firing matching 599s in both smallbore and air rifle.

Tyler Wee

A Navy freshman who has been a standout in his debut season, leading the Midshipmen in all three disciplines with an 1188.7 aggregate average.

Katrina Demerle

A Memphis junior who qualified individually for the NCAA Championships in smallbore after firing an 1182-80X aggregate in the qualifier against Ole Miss.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The top teams and individuals from the GARC Championship will advance to compete at the NCAA Rifle Championship on March 13-14 in Columbus, Ohio.

The takeaway

This weekend's GARC Championship serves as a crucial dress rehearsal for the NCAA Rifle Championship, with several of the nation's top programs and shooters vying for conference bragging rights and momentum heading into the national tournament.