Nov. 27, 2012

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss rifle team has signed Nicolle Thiry, of Elizabeth, Pa., and Ali Weisz, of Belgrade, Mont., to national letters of intent, head coach Valerie Bootheannounced Tuesday. The pair will join the Rebels for the 2013-14 academic year.

"We are excited to have these ladies become part of our program," Boothe said. "They have already proven themselves at the junior level, and I expect them to be great assets to our team."

The 2012 4-H state champion in smallbore, Thiry will represent Pennsylvania at the 4-H Nationals in Nebraska this summer. She scored 298 out of 300 in the state championships. Thiry, who will graduate from Serra Catholic High School, also took first place at the WVU Mountaineer Open in Air Rifle with a score of 586.

Thiry also competes in the Pittsburgh-Suburban Rifle league and began shooting competitively two years ago. She is also a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and plans to major in business.

A standout from Belgrade High School, Weisz was the Montana JOSC Air Rifle Champion in 2009, 2011 and 2012. She also placed third at the 2012 American Legion Jr. Air Rifle Championships and is a member of the National Honors Society.

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