No. 2 Kentucky rifle dominated in a tri-match at Ohio State to open its season, with Wildcats occupying the top three individual overall spots.

Braden Peiser, the 2024 USA Shooting Junior Olympic champion, took control in smallbore with a score of 594 and air rifle with a score of 598, finishing first overall with an aggregate score of 1,192 and 100 centers.

Peiser, a junior from San Angelo, Texas, joined the Wildcats as not only one of the best shooters in Texas at his age, but also one of the best in the world.

In the summer of 2025, he was the Team USA male flag bearer at the Junior Pan American Games, where he won two gold medals — one in the 10-meter air rifle and one in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team.

Last year, Peiser was named to the CRCA All-America first team for air rifle, smallbore and aggregate, as well as to the All-GARC first team for smallbore and aggregate and the All-GARC second team for air rifle.

With a 599 in air rifle, finishing second in the individual final after a one-shot shootout, he helped Kentucky earn a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships.

He also tied teammate Sofia Ceccarello for an NCAA record in air rifle with a score of 600-59x.

From Lugo, Italy, Ceccarello finished No. 2 in smallbore and No. 4 in air rifle, securing second place overall with an aggregate score of 1,185 and 86 centers.

She has been named to the CRCA First-Team All-America for both smallbore and air rifle every year since her freshman season.

She finished fifth overall in the NCAA smallbore individual final and led the Wildcats in air rifle average with a 597.467.

Last season, in addition to her previous honors, she was named CRCA First-Team All-America Aggregate, All-GARC Second-Team Smallbore, All-GARC First-Team Air Rifle and All-GARC First-Team Aggregate.

Sam Adkins had a strong performance for the Wildcats, claiming the third individual overall spot with a score of 586 in smallbore and 597 in air rifle. His aggregate score of 1,183 and 83 centers helped him earn third place and lift Kentucky to its first win of the season.

Adkins, a sophomore from Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, was named CRCA All-America honorable mention in smallbore and air rifle and was selected to the All-GARC second team in smallbore, air rifle and aggregate.

Kentucky will face Navy in its next match on Oct. 18 in Annapolis, Maryland.