MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Sept. 17, 2024) – The West Virginia University rifle team will open the 2024-25 season as the No. 2 team in the Preseason Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) poll, the organization announced.

West Virginia finished in second place at last year’s NCAA National Championship while collecting the program’s 16th Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Tournament Title and 15th GARC Regular Season crown. WVU finished with a 13-0 record, including a 6-0 mark inside the Great America Rifle Conference. It marked the 28th time in program history WVU has finished with a perfect regular season mark.

Alaska Fairbanks sits at No. 1 in the poll while Kentucky is tied with the Mountaineers for second. Last year’s NCAA National Champion, TCU, is just behind in fourth while Georgia Southern rounds out the top five.

Joining West Virginia and Kentucky from the GARC in the poll are No. 8 Navy, No. 10 Memphis, No. 12 Akron, and No. 14 Navy.

WVU is set to open the season on the road on Saturday, Oct. 5, when they square off against No. 20 Citadel. The Mountaineers’ first home match of the season is set for Saturday, Oct. 19, at the WVU Rifle Range. The start time for both matches will be released in the coming weeks.

Press Release and Photo Courtesy of WVU Athletics Communications