Ole Miss Rifle’s Alison Weisz Earns Fourth NCAA Bid

For the fourth consecutive year, Ole Miss senior Alison Weisz earned a bid to the NCAA Rifle Championships, as the 2017 teams and individuals were announced Wednesday. Hosted by Ohio State University, the championships will be held March 9-11 at the Hugh W. Wylie Range on the OSU campus in Columbus, Ohio.
Weisz, a native of Belgrade, Montana, was one of four individuals selected to compete in air rifle. In 2014, Weisz became the first freshman in program history to qualify for the NCAA Championships and competed in air rifle finishing 16^th out of 48 shooters. She then went on her sophomore year to qualify for smallbore after shooting a 583 at the NCAA Qualifier. Last year, Weisz qualified for the NCAA’s once again in air rifle after shooting a 591 in the NCAA Qualifier and went on to finish third, earning a bronze medal with a 593 score.
“I am so happy Ali will finish her senior season, and her Ole Miss career, competing in the NCAA Championships,” head coach Marsha Beasley said. “It really is quite remarkable that she has qualified for the NCAA’s as an individual each of her years, especially when the selection process is considered. Most student-athletes qualify as members of teams where scores from four different team competitions are factored in. Individual qualifiers are chosen from scores fired on a single pre-designated day and nationally, only four student-athletes are invited for each event. If the athlete has a poor performance that day, they won’t qualify.”
Weisz owns an average of 592 in air rifle and has posted a 590 or better nine times this year out of 12 total matches, including a season-best 597 against Nebraska, breaking the previous school air rifle record, that she too set. In addition to her near perfect score, Weisz holds the top five all-time air rifle scores at Ole Miss. While she may have qualified solely in air rifle, Weisz too holds the smallbore school record, 589, and the school record for the two events combined, 1178. 
“I am a little speechless. I knew it was going to be very close and I have been very stressed these last few days following the NCAA Qualifier. I wanted it so bad that now knowing I was able to get the outcome I have worked so hard for, I am very full of emotions,” Weisz said. “Most of all, I am beyond blessed to have the opportunity to go all four years of my career here, to have the support from all of my athletic staff, friends and family. I cannot thank them enough. I never want to leave Ole Miss.” 
The Rebels have now had an individual qualify for the NCAA Championships six straight years.
Ole Miss is set to travel to Akron, Ohio Thursday where they will shoot in the GARC Championships February 24-26. This will be the first time in over a century that Ole Miss has traveled to compete in the GARC Championships, as the Rebels have previously hosted this competition. 
For more information on Ole Miss Rifle, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissRifle, on Facebook at OleMissRifle and on Instagram @OleMissRifle. 

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