The UAF rifle team won its seventh NCAA National Championship in eight years last week, capping off a perfect 12-0 season.

The Nanooks scored an aggregate of 4,682 on the weekend, with a score of 2,353 in air rifle and 2,329 in smallbore rifle. Led by Jamie Beyerle, whose smallbore rifle score of 690.5 earned her the NCAA individual championship, the Nanooks finished second in smallbore to Jacksonville State. JSU, however, failed to qualify for the air rifle competition, giving the Nanooks the overall lead.

In the air rifle competition, UAF shooters captured three of the top five slots. Beyerle scored second, with a final of 690.4, less than two points behind winner Kristina Fehlings of Nebraska. Matt Rawlings came in third, with a score of 690.2, and Matthias Dierolf finished fifth, with a score of 689.6.

UAF's air rifle team score was a narrow nine points ahead of runner-up Nebraska, but combined with a seven-point advantage in smallbore, it was enough to put the Nanooks in the lead.

The NCAA title, the eighth overall for the UAF program, follows on the heels of last year's fourth place finish. UAF finished with 4,656 points, a single point behind Nebraska, two points behind Jacksonville State, with 4,658, and three points behind Army, with 4,659. This year's victory makes that seem like a distant memory to the Nanooks rifle squad.

"Nobody shot outstanding today, but everyone shot exceptionally well," said coach Dan Jordan in a press release. "I'm really happy for them, they worked hard all year and they earned it. I think it's better that they re-took the championship having to earn it, than just walking away with it."

UAF also received the National Rifle Association Intercollegiate Trophy for the highest score in smallbore.

Along with the victories at the range, UAF had several shooters named to the All-American team. Beyerle, Rawlings and Christian Lejon were named as first-team All-Americans for smallbore, while Dierolf was named to the second team. In addition, Beyerle, Rawlings and Dierolf were first-team All-Americans for air rifle, while Lejon was named to the second team.

The UAF Rifle team will resume competition next fall, in their search for a ninth NCAA Championship.