Tag Archives: miner rifle

Isabella Rios has signed a national letter of intent to attend UTEP and compete with the Miner rifle team starting for the 2020-21 season, head coach Austin Litherland announced Thursday.

“We are very excited to call Isabella Rios a Miner. I know she has the right attitude and work ethic to excel on the range. She is also an excellent student which will make her a wonderful student athlete…”- UTEP head coach Austin Litherland said.

Rios attended Claudia Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson High School in San Antonio.

UTEP officials share that Rios was introduced to rifle during her sophomore year and excelled throughout high school. Rios competed with the JROTC team for three years (air rifle), helping the team to numerous victories. She also shot for two years with Helotes 4-H team for two years, competing in smallbore competitions.

As a four-year participant in JROTC, Rios qualified with her team to the Army JROTC Service Championships in back-to-back years, as well as competing with her squad at the CMP National Championships and JROTC All-Service Championships.

Just last year, Rios took first place in the Bexar County Championships, and shot at the 2019 Western Regionals.

Five different members of the UTEP rifle team have earned placement on the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholastic All-America list, it was recently announced by the organization.

 Amoret McCartney, Samantha Miller, Morgahn Warner, Jonna Warnken and Jennie Windle were all so distinguished for their efforts in the classroom.

“I’m always very proud of my athletes, but especially when they do well academically,” UTEP head coach Austin Litherland said. “They all not only work hard in the range, but also in the classroom. They all know that being a student comes first, and they show that through their grades.”

The quintet also helped the Orange and Blue thrive on the range in 2019-20. UTEP’s average aggregate (4588) tied as the sixth highest in program history. Aiding in that average was the Miners surpassing 4600 in three of the final four matches on the season, including a campaign-high 4610 against Jacksonville State (2/20).

UTEP nearly matched that total after firing a 4608 in the season finale during its NCAA Qualifier match (2/22).

To be eligible for the CRCA Scholastic All-American honors, a student-athlete must hold a 3.20 grade-point average.

UTEP’s CRCA Scholastic All-Americans

Amoret McCartney

Samantha Miller

Morgahn Warner

Jonna Warnken

Jennie Windle

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The UTEP rifle team surpassed the 4600 barrier for the third time in the past four matches by recording an aggregate of 4608 in its NCAA Qualifier match with Alaska-Fairbanks (4633) at the UTEP rifle range Saturday. 

“We finished out our season strong,” UTEP head coach Austin Litherland said. “Today showed the hard work the team has put into accomplishing our goals. It has been a great season, and I want to thank everyone for all the support we have gotten. Go Miners!”

Freshman Jonna Warnken set a career high with the top aggregate (1172) by all competitors on the range Saturday. The 1172 ties as the fifth-highest score in program history. She shot a career-best 591 in air rifle and came within one point (581) of matching her personal best in smallbore.

Senior Mara Rouse eclipsed 570 in both smallbore (571) and air rifle (586) on the way to shooting her second-best aggregate (1157) on the year. Freshman Amoret McCartney followed at 1140 (566-574), while redshirt-freshman Jennie Windle checked in with an aggregate of 1139. Samantha Miller rounded out the team at 1111.

Morgahn Warner missed the match due to an injury.

UTEP’s aggregate of 4608 marked its second-best score of the second. The Miners also peaked at the proper time, flying past 4600 in three of their final four matches of the campaign.

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The UTEP rifle team will take to the range for the final time of the regular season when it plays host to Alaska-Fairbanks in its NCAA Qualifier match at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

“This week we have been training hard and keeping our focus on our goals,” UTEP head coach Austin Litherland said. “We’ve been making sure our positions are solid and our mental sharpness has an edge. We are also excited to be hosting Alaska for qualifiers this year.”

Freshman Jonna Warnken paces the team in aggregate average (1151), including a squad-best air rifle average (585). Senior Mara Rouse has buoyed her at 1148. Rouse has been the top marksman in smallbore (569)

Another freshman, Amoret McCartney, and sophomore Morgahn Warner share third on the team in aggregate average (1138), while Jennie Windle (1131) and Samantha Miller (1128) have also made their presence felt this year.

The collective effort of the group has resulted in the Miners peaking at the proper time, with UTEP eclipsing 4600 in two of the past three outings.

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FORT WORTH, Texas–Freshman Jonna Warnken recorded an aggregate of 1161 to lead the way for the UTEP rifle team over two days of action at the Patriot Rifle Conference Championships on the campus of TCU Saturday and Sunday. She posted squad bests in both smallbore (573) and air rifle (588), helping the Miners finish with an aggregate of 4583 (2264 smallbore, 2319 air rifle).

“This weekend was a long weekend,” UTEP head coach Austin Litherland said. “We worked hard for every 10. This week we will hit the range and work on mental (aspects) and positions to tune them to a precise point!”

The Miners’ top three finishers were freshmen.

Freshman Amoret McCartney matched her third-highest aggregate of her career by shooting an 1141. She recorded a 562 in smallbore before equaling her career high in air rifle (579). Redshirt-freshman Jennie Windle checked in with her second-best aggregate (1138) on the year, finishing with 561 in smallbore and 577 in air rifle.

Senior Mara Rouse recorded a 568 in both smallbore and air rifle on the way to tallying a total of 1136. Junior Samantha Miller registered a 550 in smallbore and a 575 in air rifle to wrap up the competition with an aggregate of 1125.

TCU won the title with an aggregate of 4728, followed by Air Force (4681), Ohio State (4669), Alaska-Fairbanks (4639) and UTEP.

UTEP will wrap up the regular season at home with its NCAA Qualifier match at 8:30 a.m. MT on Feb. 22.

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UTEP Rifle secured its first victory of the season, defeating Jacksonville State, 4610-4602, Sunday morning at the UTEP Rifle Range.

“The team came in today with the right attitude and mental game,” Head coach Austin Litherland said. “We learned from our last match and applied it. I couldn’t be more happy. Having this confidence will help in upcoming matches.”

The Miners broke the 4600 mark for the first time this season behind huge performances from Jonna Warnken (1165) and Mara Rouse (1154). This is the first time UTEP has broken the 4600 barrier since Nov. 15, 2018.

The Orange and Blue posted their best air rifle score (2331) of the season to propel them to victory. Rouse’s aim was true, shooting a match-high 589 in air. Warnken followed with a 588 at the line. Jennie Windle (578) and Samantha Miller (576) both turned in strong air scores .

Windle locked in a career-high 1137 aggregate, helping boost her team’s score today. Amoret McCartney recorded the third highest aggregate (1138) for the team, and Morgahn Warner followed her up with an 1134 total.

Next up, the Miners will compete at home against TCU next Saturday, February 8.

The UTEP rifle team will host Jacksonville State for two matches on Friday and Sunday at the UTEP Rifle Range.

“We will be back home this weekend,” Head coach Austin Litherland said. “We have been working hard this week to improve our groups and mental skills for this weekend. We are excited to be shooting with Jacksonville State, and are very please that they are able to come to our range.”

Both matches are free to the public and will begin at 8 a.m. MT. You can follow along with the action with live stats here.

The Miners are coming off of their second-best outing of the season, where they shot a 4594 against Ohio State.

Freshman Jonna Warnken carried the squad versus the Buckeyes, shooting a career-high 1168 in the match. She became the first Miner this season to post a score higher than 580 in smallbore.

Captain Mara Rouse leads the Orange and Blue with an 1149 average aggregate. Morgahn Warner (1142) and Amoret McCartney (1140) both boast aggregates over the 1140 mark this year as well.

Samantha Miller tied her season high with an 1134 outing at Ohio State last weekend. Jennie Windle is pitching in an 1128 average aggregate on the year.

The Gamecocks are coming off of their worst performance of the year, shooting a 4604 versus UT Martin.