ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy rifle team is set to open its 2024-25 campaign at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 as it hosts defending national champion TCU and VMI in a meet at the Bancroft Hall Rifle Range. Live results will be available.
 
Accessing the USNA
The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is closed to all vehicles without a Department of Defense-approved identification card. All other visitors are encouraged to park downtown and walk through the security gates at Gate 1. When walking on, those ages 18 and over must present a photo identification card (driver's license) to gain access and those ages 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
 
Stephanie Milvain Named as Navy Rifle Team Captain
Navy rifle head coach Mike Anti announced that senior Stephanie Milvain (Matthews, N.C.) has been selected by her teammates to serve as the Mids' team captain for the 2024-25 season. Milvain, a three-year letter winner, has appeared in 37 matches over her first three seasons at Navy during which she has compiled averages of 579.1 in smallbore, 583.1 in air rifle, and an aggregate average of 1162.2.
 
Last season, Milvain proved to be a solid contributor. She appeared in 15 contests, including the NCAA Championship, recording season averages of 580.2 in smallbore, 581.9 in air rifle, and 1162.1 in aggregate.
 
Along with her efforts on the range, Milvain has been recognized for her efforts in the classroom, as she was named a Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholastic All-American following the 2021-22 season.
 
Scouting the Midshipmen
The 2024 NCAA Championship marked the end of Navy's record-breaking 2023-24 season, in which it broken the team-scoring record in each of the three categories, along with cracking the 4,700-point plateau on nine different occasions. The Mids finished the season with a 10-9 overall record, securing the Midshipmen's fifth winning season in the last six years.
 
Navy used a record-setting performance to post a victory in the annual Star Match at Army. The Midshipmen registered a school-record score in the current Army-Navy scoring format to post a 5896-5863 win. In addition, the Mids shot a school record in the NCAA scoring format, notching a team score of 4724. Marleigh Duncan was awarded the Josh Watson Memorial Trophy that is awarded annually to the Most Valuable Player of the Star Match.
 
The Midshipmen placed fifth at the GARC Championship with an aggregate score of 4703 points, including marks of 2331 in smallbore and 2372 in air rifle. Individually at the GARC, Isabella Baldwin led the way for the Mids. The rookie tallied 1181 aggregate points in her first GARC Championship. Duncan was one point back, registering an aggregate tally of 1180.
 
The GARC announced its postseason awards and a pair of Midshipmen – Baldwin and Duncan – combined for six All-Conference honors for shooting, while Clarissa Layland was selected as Navy's Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Additionally, the Navy rifle team earned the conference's Sportsmanship Award. Baldwin was tabbed Second Team All-GARC in smallbore, air rifle, and combined. Duncan earned second-team distinction in smallbore and aggregate, while being named honorable mention in air rifle. Academically, Layland recorded a perfect 4.0 grade point average in the fall to represent the team as Navy's Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the GARC. Each team in the conference has one honoree based off of grades in the fall semester.
 
Navy was selected as one of eight teams to compete at the NCAA Rifle National Championship. With three consecutive record-breaking weekends, including the NCAA Qualifying Match, the Midshipmen moved themselves from 12th-place in the standings to seventh place, jumping ahead of Nebraska who qualified eighth. Joining #7 Navy in the national championship field was championship host #1 West Virginia, #2 TCU, #3 Air Force, #4 Kentucky, #5 Alaska Fairbanks, #6 Ole Miss, and #8 Nebraska.
 
At the 2024 NCAA Rifle Championship at the WVU Coliseum, Navy finished in sixth place. Layland posted a team-best score of 1179 in her final NCAA Championship. Duncan was second on the team with an aggregate tally of 1175. She finished one point better than Baldwin who carded a two-day score of 1174. Deonte Hayes carded an aggregate score of 1162, while Stephanie Milvain finished with an 1161.
 
Baldwin and Duncan were selected as CRCA All-Americans, combining for five All-American accolades. Baldwin was a first-team honoree in smallbore, while being named third team in aggregate and honorable mention in air rifle. Duncan was recognized as a Second Team All-American in smallbore discipline, while being named Honorable Mention All-American in the aggregate category.
 
Academically, the CRCA announced its Scholastic All-Americans and seven Navy student-athletes –Baldwin, Catherine Dely, John Dely, Mark Dely, Layland, Joshua Potts, and Ryan Wee – were recognized for their efforts in the classroom. Additionally, Layland was among the five Navy female student-athletes who garnered Academic All-District accolades for at-large sports from the College Sports Communicators.
 
Scouting TCU
For the fourth straight season, TCU will open the season at Navy. Fresh off its 18th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championships that ended with a National Championship, the Frogs have once again put together a tough slate of contests. Among their opponents, six were participants at last season's NCAA Championships, including the Midshipmen.
 
The Horned Frogs have won three NCAA titles in program history (2010, '12, '19, '24). The air rifle championship was the fifth in program history (2010, '12, '21, '22, '24). TCU, under the guidance of head coach Karen Monez, remains the only all-female squad to take home a National Championship.
 
Scouting VMI
VMI rifle heads to Annapolis for the first match of the season. Following a season that featured multiple program records, Junior Olympic qualifiers, and appearing in the top-20 for the first time in program history, VMI Rifle Coach Bill Bither was named the 2024 Southern Conference Coach of the Year. It marked the second time that Bither earned the accolade, earning the SoCon Coach of the Year recognition 2020. As a team, VMI finished fifth with the women's squad just behind them in sixth.
 
The mixed team had the fourth-best air rifle score with a 2319, with Ryan Harlow shooting the seventh-highest score in that discipline (577) a day after placing sixth in the smallbore. Overall, Christopher Hicks' 1159 was the ninth-best aggregate in the field.
 
A day after leading the VMI women's squad in the smallbore, Victoria Phillips led all VMI women's shooters in the air rifle, recording a 566. Katelyn Grochalski had a good showing in the air rifle, with her 587 tying for eighth overall.
 
Up Next
Following its opening-weekend against TCU and VMI, Navy will return to action Saturday, October 19 as it hosts Nebraska and fellow GARC member Ole Miss. The match is set to get underway at 9:00 a.m.