The West Virginia University rifle team will visit the White House and meet with President Donald J. Trump on April 21 to celebrate their 2026 National Championship.
This event marks the third time in university history that a Mountaineer athletic team has been invited to the White House, and the first since 2017. The visit is part of NCAA Champions Day, which honors collegiate teams who have won national titles.
Hayhurst Family Head Coach Jon Hammond said, “We’re incredibly excited and honored to participate in an event and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like this. It’s a reflection of the success our team has achieved and the work our student-athletes and staff have put in. Opportunities like this are rare, and to experience it again as a program is something we truly appreciate and do not take for granted.”
The Mountaineer rifle program previously visited the White House in 2014 with President Barack Obama and again in 2017 with President Trump. The team’s most recent championship win was its second consecutive title, bringing its total to a nation-best 21st championship. WVU secured the NCAA title with a record score of 4748 during competition held on March 14 in Columbus, Ohio. Additionally, Lake became only the fifth Mountaineer named Most Outstanding Performer at the NCAA National Championships after achieving a top mark of 1194.
For more information about the Mountaineers, updates can be found at WVUsports.com or by following WVURifle on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or Facebook.
