DAHLONEGA — The preseason No. 17 University of North Georgia will begin its 2023-24 campaign against 12th-ranked Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga. on Saturday (0ct. 7) for the Georgia State Championships. The Georgia Southern match is the first of two matches over the weekend, with the second coming against Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C. on Sunday (Oct. 8).

The Nighthawks finished second in last season's SoCon Championship, coming in just behind the Eagles of Georgia Southern, finishing 18th in the NCAA final rankings. Elysa Walter highlighted the season's final weeks, making an appearance at the NCAA Rifle Championships, making her way to the finals to become the first North Georgia rifle athlete to make the finals of the NCAA Rifle Championship.

Walter is part of a core of shooters that features first-team All-Conference selections Maya Cameron and Alyssa Kiser, along with the lone senior on the roster and second-team All-Conference selection Jaden-Ann Fraser. North Georgia brings in five incoming freshman to a talented roster, with Alysa Yancey, Madison Kennedy, Corbin Jockers, Courtney Allison and Abby Swain all arriving to the mountains of Dahlonega this season. 

Georgia Southern has won the past three Georgia Collegiate Championships after UNG held the title for the previous three seasons. The match will also serve as a SoCon match for the two squads. The first shot of the competition against Georgia Southern begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Shooting Sports Education Center.

Saturday Schedule:
Call to the Line: 7:30 am
Sighters and Prep: 7:45 am
First Shot (smallbore): 8:00 am
Smallbore ends: 9:30 am
Call to the Line: 10:00 am
Sighters and Prep: 10:15 am
First Shot (air rifle): 10:30 am
Air rifle ends: 11:45 am