Rifle Finishes As National Runner-Up

Saturday, March 11

Akron, Ohio

8 a.m.

TCU

NCAA Championships - Air Rifle

Rifle Finishes As National Runner-Up

3/11/2023 6:07:00 PM | Women's Rifle

Air Rifle - Team Air Rifle - Individual Final Results

Horned Frogs finish second for third straight season

AKRON, Ohio – Entering the final day of the NCAA Rifle Championships, TCU put together a solid day on the range to finish as the National Runners-Up. The Horned Frogs fired a team air rifle score of 2,379 to finish second in the discipline.

Overall, TCU leapt over four teams to finish with a second place trophy. The Horned Frogs fired a team aggregate score of 4,717. Alaska Fairbanks took home the National Championship with a final aggregate of 4,729.

The runner-up finish was the fifth in program history. TCU has finished second each of the last three seasons as well as the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The Horned Frogs have finished in the top two at six of the last seven championships.

The Horned Frogs got off to a strong start in the first air rifle relay. Julie Johannessen fired a 599. Katie Zaun contributed a 597 and Stephanie Grundsoee a 595. In the second relay, Kristen Hemphill fired a 588 to contribute to the final team score. Misfortune befell the Frogs as Abigail Gordon's 594 was disqualified upon the completion of the match.

Freshmen Zaun and Johannessen qualified for the air rifle finals. Zaun finished seventh individually, while Johannessen finished eighth.

The Horned Frogs completed a tremendous season that saw them rewrite multiple history books. The Horned Frogs opened the season with NCAA records in smallbore and aggregate score. Julie Johannessen (twice) and Kristen Hemphill each fired perfect air rifle scores. Johannessen also set the NCAA record in smallbore with a 598 and an aggregate of 1,198 at the PRC Championships. Additionally, the Horned Frogs won the Patriot Rifle Conference Championship.

As a team, TCU turned in six of the top 10 air rifle scores in program history. Additionally, they fired the top six smallbore scores in program history and nine of the top 10 aggregate marks.

TCU will bid adieu to a pair of super seniors in Abigail Gordon and Kristen Hemphill. Gordon is a three-time All-American, while Hemphill departs as a 12-time all-American.