STATESBORO, Ga. – The 2026 Southern Conference Rifle Championship took place at the Shooting Sports Education Center at Georgia Southern on Saturday and Sunday. Wofford finished sixth overall with 4,545 points.  
 
At the conclusion of the championship, Seth Flannigan was named Coach of the Year and Samuel Nickless was named Co-Freshman of the Year. This marks the second honor for Flanagan, who was also the Coach of the Year in 2021. Nickless becomes the first Terrier to earn Freshman of the Year honors.
 
The smallbore competition was held on Saturday. In the team scores, Wofford was sixth with 2,221 points and 75 centers. Freshman Henry Sparra led the Terriers with a 560 to place 21^st overall. He was followed by Samuel Nickless (556), Oliver Guthrie (553, team-high 21 centers), Anna Mottern (personal-best 552), and Garett Dall (552).
 
In the air rifle competition on Sunday, Wofford had 2,324 points to finish fourth. Freshman Samuel Nickless had a 590 with 39 centers to place eighth and advance to the individual finals. In the finals, he fired a 141.2 to move up to seventh place. Also competing for the Terriers were Oliver Guthrie (583), Garett Dall (579- tied personal best), Anna Mottern (572), and Henry Sparra (563).
 
"I am really proud of the team and all of the hard work they put in this season," said head coach Seth Flanagan. "I am excited to watch this group continue to grow and develop next year. Samuel Nickless reaching the finals as a freshman against steep competition was impressive."
 
Georgia Southern won the SoCon team title for the fifth straight season. Wofford will close out the season on Saturday, Feb. 21, with the NCAA Sectional.
 
2026 Southern Conference Rifle Championship
Aggregate team scores (Points, Centers)
1. Georgia Southern – 4,727 (339)
2. North Georgia – 4,658 (260)
3. UAB – 4,601 (223)
4. VMI – 4,563 (209)
5. VMI (W) – 4,560 (205)
6. Wofford – 4,545 (203)
7. The Citadel – 4,538 (211)
8. The Citadel (W) – 4,424 (151)
 
Smallbore Individual Champion
Emme Walrath, So., Georgia Southern (Kenosha, WI)
 
Air Rifle Individual Champion
Emme Walrath, So., Georgia Southern (Kenosha, WI)
 
2026 Pinnacle Award
Emme Walrath, So., Georgia Southern (Kenosha, WI) – 3.93 / Biology
 
Co-Freshmen of the Year
Sam Nickless, Fr., Wofford (Fairfax, VA)
Soraya Sar, Fr., VMI (San Antonio, TX)
 
Coach of the Year
Seth Flanagan, Wofford