The VMI mixed and women’s rifle programs continued to take notable strides this season. From an NCAA qualifier to freshman of the year to Junior Olympic qualifiers and victory over The Citadel, here are some of the highlights of 2025–26.
- After shooting a program-record 587 in smallbore at an NCAA Qualifier in Morgantown, West Virginia, Alexander Pohlman ’28 became the first shooter in program history to earn an invite to the NCAA Championships, as he was named an alternate for the event.
- Darian Tweedell ’27 and Pohlman both medaled in the Virginia State Qualifiers, with Pohlman being crowned state champion for his 588 in the air rifle.
- Soraya Sar ’29 claimed SoCon Freshman of the Year honors after finishing sixth individually at the SoCon Rifle Championships.
- Laura Canaday ’27, Kyle Kemp ’27, Zachary Mauriello ’27, Pohlman, Sar, and Wuyue Xie ’28 represented VMI at the USA Shooting Winter Air Gun Championships in December.
- VMI faced six top 20 programs during regular season competition, opening at No. 9 U.S. Naval Academy and No. 3 Texas Christian University; hosting No. 18 University of North Georgia, No. 12 University of Akron, and No. 19 University of Alabama at Birmingham; and closing out 2025 against No. 4 Georgia Southern University.
- The Keydets scored victories over Wofford College, John Jay College, and rival The Citadel in October, with the mixed team posting a season-best 4605 aggregate.
