RENO, Nev. – The 13^th ranked University of Nevada rifle team opens the season Saturday at No. 17 UTEP in El Paso, Texas.  It's matchup of two teams ranked in the top 20 of Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association preseason poll.  Saturday's match is the first of three scheduled this season between the two Patriot Rifle Conference opponents.
 
"This year's team is one of the most experienced and talented to ever shoot for Nevada," head coach Fred Harvey said. "We are looking forward to a record season and appreciate the support provided to us and the opportunity to compete."
 
The Nevada rifle team has 16 members on the roster and returns its top six shooters from last season.  The veteran six includes three seniors, a junior and two sophomores.
 
Leading the way is junior Mitchell Van Patten who posted the Pack's top air rifle (594), smallbore (588) and aggregate (1182) scores last season.  Van Patten's outstanding performance at the Winter Airgun Championships and during his time at Nevada earned him a spot on the USA Junior National Team.
 
Last season Van Patten earned numerous honors being named to the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association honorable mention All-America squad.  The National Rifle Association selected him to a pair of All-America teams, the smallbore second team and the air rifle honorable mention squad.  He was named to the Patriot Rifle Conference team for the second consecutive year.  As a freshman he was selected to the NRA smallbore honorable mention All-America team.
 
 
The three seniors are Emily Capaul, Sarah Jameson, and Justin Nissen while the two sophomores are Rachel Benesh and Eli Larimer.
 
Capaul's air rifle score of 594 her sophomore season is tied for the school record.  Last year she posted a 591 in air rifle, 579 in smallbore and an aggregate score of 1167.  The air rifle and smallbore scores ranked fourth on the squad while the aggregate was third.
 
Jameson shot a 593 in air rifle that tied for second on the squad with Benesh.  Her 584 in smallbore was second as was her 1170 aggregate performance.
 
A 578 by Nissen at UTEP in smallbore was fifth best on the Wolf Pack squad last season.  He also shot a season best 589 in air rifle and 1159 aggregate.
 
Benesh had an outstanding first season with 593 in air rifle that tied Jameson for the second best outing on the team.  Her 1163 aggregate was fifth while her top outing in smallbore was 575.
 
The Pack's other sophomore, Larimer was just as impressive in his first season with the Wolf Pack posting a 582 in smallbore to rank third on the squad.  His 591 in air rifle tied Capaul for the fourth best score and his 1168 aggregate was fourth.