Nebraska’s Cecelia Ossi Wins 2023 NCAA Smallbore Rifle Individual Championship

Cecelia Ossi of the University of Nebraska rifle team captured this year’s NCAA smallbore rifle title, triumphing over Kentucky’s Will Shaner during an exciting final, 16-8.

by
posted on March 15, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Ossi 2023 1
John Parker

Cecelia Ossi of the Nebraska Cornhuskers rifle team captured the 2023 NCAA smallbore individual title on Friday, March 10, during the NCAA rifle championships at the University of Akron's Rhodes Arena in Ohio.

This marks the first time that Ossi, a junior this season, has clinched the NCAA smallbore individual championship. Hailing from Annandale, N.J., her title came after an exciting final match that drew much interest from the sizable crowd inside Rhodes Arena, with Ossi and Kentucky's Will Shaner jockeying for the top position on the leaderboard to close out this year's NCAA smallbore championship.

NCAA smallbore rifle competitors
The 2023 NCAA smallbore rifle national championship was held in the University of Akron’s Rhodes Arena on Friday, March 10, with the air rifle championship on the following day.

 

Competing in the first smallbore rifle relay on Friday, Ossi finished in third place with a score of 590-43X.

Her best string in smallbore qualification came in one of two fired kneeling position ones with a score of 100. Ossi also posted three 99 scores—two in prone position and one in standing.

NCAA smallbore rifle final
The eight shooters in the 2023 NCAA smallbore rifle individual championship final (from left): Will Shaner (Kentucky), Rylan Kissell (Alaska-Fairbanks), Gavin Barnick (Alaska-Fairbanks), Mary Tucker (WVU), Emma Pereira (Ole Miss), Cecelia Ossi (Nebraska), Malori Brown (WVU) and Lea Horvath (Ole Miss).

 

As mentioned, in the smallbore individual final, it came down to Ossi and Kentucky rifle team shooter Will Shaner after the other six competitors had been eliminated. Going in to the head-to-head contest portion of the final to determine the champion, Shaner was in first place with a two-point advantage over Ossi, 411.9-409.5.

By round two of the head-to-head smallbore rifle showdown between Shaner and Ossi, the latter was down, 4-0. By round nine, Ossi had overcome the gap and deposited even more, posting a score of 12 to Shaner’s six.

After round 12 and with an eight-point margin (16-8), Ossi had clinched the NCAA smallbore rifle title over Shaner, who was last year's NCAA smallbore rifle champion. She fired a 10.6 in round 12, giving her two points which was enough to seal the deal for her, after Shaner fired a 10.4.

Cecelia Ossi is the first Nebraska shooter to land a NCAA rifle individual championship since 2015, when Rachel Martin (now the Ole Miss rifle team assistant coach) won the smallbore title.

Will Shane and Cecelia Ossi
The 2023 NCAA smallbore rifle final came down to last year’s champion Will Shaner of Kentucky and Nebraska’s Cecelia Ossi.

 

At the Nebraska rifle team website (huskers.com), Ossi said in an interview: “All my coaches have put in so much work, all my friends and family are here. It just means a lot to me to win that medal, not only for myself, but for them and all the work they’ve put into helping me succeed.”

The Nebraska rifle team arrived in Akron ranked No. 7 in the 2023 NCAA selections. The Huskers finished the 2023 NCAA rifle championships with a team aggregate score of 4706-321X, good for sixth place.

You can view the 2023 NCAA rifle championship scorecard at this link.

More coverage of the 2023 NCAA rifle championship will be coming soon on the website and in the digital magazine.

Latest

Rem22 Short 1
Rem22 Short 1

Remington’s .22 Short Rimfire Ammo is Back

Remington brings back the .22 Short rimfire with updated loads for plinking, pest control and beginner training.

SK Customs Unveils ‘Kingdom of Atzlán’ Colt 1911 Series Honoring Aztec Heritage

SK Customs’ new .38 Super Colt 1911 handgun series blends Aztec mythology with handcrafted firearm artistry

Drew Cup Selection: U.S. Juniors Set Sights on Prestigious International Smallbore Showdown

The 2025 Drew Cup brings elite international smallbore competition to U.S. soil, where junior shooters compete for national pride via a postal qualifier

Competitors’ Corner: September 2025

Highlights from the September 2025 issue of Shooting Sports USA, the NRA’s competitive shooting journal

Sarah Beard Tops Inaugural Brock Comer Memorial Match Leaderboard at Bisley

Sarah Beard leads Team USA with a 790 at Bisley, winning the first-ever Brock Comer Memorial Match—a tribute to marksmanship and international shooting unity

CMP Auctions Move to GunBroker.com in September

CMP auctions and direct sales will transition to GunBroker.com this September, improving buyer access and simplifying the online bidding process

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.