Sophomore Jennie Fladebo will take off for spring break a day early, headed to Murray, Ky., for the NCAA Rifle Championship Friday, March 12.

“I am really excited about going just going to the NCAA championship,” Fladebo said. “This will be one of those matches I'll never forget.”

Fladebo becomes the first person from Tennessee-Martin to compete in the NCAA rifle championship since 2000 when James "Montana" Micheletti captured a berth in the championship.

The last Tennessee-Martin marksmen to win the NCAA air rifle championship was Rob Harbison, who shot a 392 in 1987. Harbison was a three-time All-American and represented the United States in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Fladebo shot a 390 in the recent NCAA Sectionals at Murray State to qualify for the NCAA championship.

Murray State won the NCAA Sectional, while Tennessee-Martin finished eighth. The top eight teams in each event qualify for the championship and the top 40 individuals in air rifle and small bore qualify.

Murray State will represent the Ohio Valley Conference, while the top five teams in the nation include Alaska Fairbanks, Navy, Xavier, Nevada and Nebraska.

In the NCAA Section, freshman Jaymi Collar led Tennessee-Martin with an 1158 small bore score and 380 air rifle. Collar finished with an aggregate score of 1538.

Fladebo's 390 was the highest Skyhawk air rifle score. Sophomore Devra Harvey shot a 383, while Jessie Wilson shot a 374.

In air rifle, shooters take 40 shots from the standing position and a perfect score is 400 points.

"I thought Jennie had a 50-50 chance of qualifying for the NCAA championship this year," Beard said.

The veteran coach won't even try to predict where Fladebo will finish.

Fladebo will spend the next week trying to prepare mentally, as well as trying to practice at the range two or three more times before Friday.