For the first time in program history, the Georgia Southern rifle team has qualified for the NCAA Rifle Championships as the Eagles were one of eight teams selected to compete in the 2025 championships.
The national event will take place from March 14-15 inside Kentucky's Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky. Individual and team competition in smallbore is scheduled for Friday, March 14 while air rifle competition will be on Saturday, March 15.
"I'm so incredibly excited for our team and program," said head coach Soren Butler. "What a great day for Georgia Southern. This really is a culmination of hard work from the last three years. Last year's finish left a hole, and while we struggled in qualifiers this year, I couldn't be more thankful for how it turned out. Getting over that hump and making the championship as a team for the first time will really allow us to perform freely once we're there. I can't wait to see what this team does, am so proud to get an Eagle, and am so thankful the Lord let me be a part of this journey. Hail Southern and no place else."
Georgia Southern is the first SoCon rifle team to qualify for the NCAA Championships since ETSU did it in 1986.
Last Saturday's NCAA qualifying score was the last factor determining the field for the 2025 NCAA Rifle Championships. Each team's three score aggregate average – the score based on each team's highest three regular season scores fired at three different locations – was already recorded. Last weekend's qualifier score was added to that average and the teams with the eight highest combined scores qualified for the NCAA Championship.
Georgia Southern's three scores it counts as part of its NCAA Qualifying score are its 4,745 at Army, its 4,742 at Kentucky, and its 4,733 fired at VMI. Adding Southern's 4,707 qualifying score, GS's total for NCAA selection was 9,447.00, which seeded the Eagles seventh. Alaska Fairbanks is seeded first at 9509.00 with West Virginia second (9,496), Kentucky third (9483.33), defending champion TCU fifth (9,473.00), Ole Miss sixth (9,471.00), Murray State sixth (9,459.00) and Air Force eighth (9,443.00). Seeding are only used for shooter placements as all teams start on equal footing at the event.
Southern is averaging a 2,342.462.25 in smallbore (7th in the NCAA) and 2382.077 in air rifle (4th in the NCAA) for a season aggregate average of 4,724.539 (5th in the NCAA).
The two-day event will see the best air rifle and smallbore competitors in the nation compete on the Historic Memorial Coliseum floor. All-session and single-session tickets are on sale now through the UK Athletics Account Manager. All-session tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for youth (ages 3-18) and seniors (age 65+). Single-session tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for youth (ages 3-18) and seniors (age 65+). Children ages 2 and under will be admitted free of charge.
