Ford, Kozeniesky Set for NCAA Rifle Championships

RALEIGH, N.C. – Caitlyn Ford and Lucas Kozeniesky will represent the 11^th-ranked NC State rifle team at the NCAA Championships this weekend. The duo was selected to compete at the championships as individuals, after the Wolfpack narrowly missed being selected as a team.

The University of Akron will host this year's event at the Stile Athletics Field House. Smallbore action is set to get underway Friday at 10:15 a.m., while air rifle action is slated to begin at the same time Saturday.

It will be first time that NC State has had a shooter compete in the NCAA Championships since Dani Foster in 2012. Ford will take part in both guns, while Kozeniesky will only compete in air rifle.

"We're very excited to have two student-athletes taking part in the NCAA Championships," said head coach Keith Miller. "It's great to qualify as an individual, but when you're there with another team member it makes the experience that much more special, so I'm thrilled for both of them.

"Coming into the year, we knew Lucas was shooting at a really high level and had the potential to make the NCAA Championships, but we were surprised at how quickly Caitlyn stepped up her game to qualify for both guns as a sophomore."

Ford set the program record earlier this season with a score of 596 at No. 10 Army to help the Wolfpack earn an upset win against the Black Knights. She also tallied a season high and personal-best score of 588 in smallbore at top-ranked West Virginia.

"I'm super excited to be competing in the NCAA Championships," said Ford. "Even though it's during spring break, it's worth giving it up to have the opportunity to compete against other great shooters along with my teammate (Lucas).

"I didn't think that I would have as much success as I've had this season. If someone told me that I would qualify for the championships in both guns, I wouldn't have believed them. I've just been having more and more fun and my scores have continued to improve."

Kozeniesky, a junior, owns the NC State rifle record in smallbore and aggregate total. He fired a 591 in smallbore to lift the Pack to an upset victory over No. 3 Kentucky and also achieved an 1181 in aggregate total in that contest. It was one NC State's highest ranked victory in program history.

"It's a really cool feeling to be in Akron, Ohio, to compete in the NCAA Championships," said Kozeniesky. "It's something that hasn't happened with our program in a few years or that often with our program, so I'm glad that I'm here and that I'm not by myself.

"It's been an exciting couple of weeks with our conference championships, going to Bangkok and now being at the NCAA Championships. I've made a few minor adjustments here and there that proved to make a big difference for me to keep getting better and have a great season."

Ford, Kozeniesky Set for NCAA Rifle Championships

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Players Mentioned

Caitlyn Ford

Dani Foster

Lucas Kozeniesky