With each shot worth 10 points, even a 10-point margin is considered a close match in collegiate rifle. At the 2026 Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) Championship, several teams were separated by just a single point. With each team pursuing a possible 4800 points, a one-point difference is extraordinary. For example, Akron’s 4713 was just one point behind Army’s 4714, placing the Zips fifth overall at the GARC Championship.
The 2026 GARC Championship was held at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, from Saturday, February 28 to Sunday, March 1.
Prior to the match on Friday evening as the annual GARC banquet. In addition to providing an opportunity for fellowship and reconnecting with friends, several special awards were presented. Akron senior Natalia Siek earned Honorable Mention recognition for the GARC All-Conference Smallbore Team. No small accomplishment in a conference filled with many of the nation’s top athletes. Additionally, senior Sally Reeke was recognized as Akron’s GARC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA. Both honors were well deserved.
Saturday’s competition featured the smallbore portion of the championship, with all six conference teams battling for position. Team Akron delivered an outstanding performance, setting a new school record of 2346 and securing third place in smallbore. The crowd was electric as Akron finished ahead of the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, the Kentucky Wildcats. Senior Rachael Paddock led the way with a stellar 591, the fourth-highest score in the conference, earning her an invitation to the individual final. She was backed closely by senior Natalia Siek with a 589. Overall, the Akron rifle team delivered an exceptional third-place performance on the smallbore range.
The championship concluded Sunday with the air rifle competition. Siek remained determined, tying her career-high air rifle score of 597 to finish eighth overall. Winning a three-way tiebreaker, she secured another spot in the individual finals. Close behind was standout freshman Matthew Kimball with a 595. Combining the smallbore and air rifle team scores gave Akron a 4713, the team’s highest score of the season and the third-highest in program history.
2026 GARC Championship Leaderboard
See the full results of the 2026 GARC Championship at ncaarifle.org.
What a way to end the season! Thank you to all our fans and supporters across the country. We truly appreciate your continued encouragement and pride in Akron rifle.
Learn more about the Akron rifle team.
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