The Ohio State pistol team has once again proven that it is the undisputed ruler of collegiate shooting sports, securing its fifth consecutive national championship in spectacular fashion. Year after year, the Buckeyes continue to rewrite history, turning their program into an unstoppable powerhouse.
Less than two months after Ohio State football celebrated its first 12-team College Football Playoff national championship, yet another Buckeye squad has brought home a national title. But this one is hardly surprising—the Ohio State pistol team has made winning a tradition, and 2025 was no different.
A Legacy Etched in Gold
The Buckeyes’ latest victory marks their sixth championship since 2018, a testament to the remarkable leadership of head coach Emil Milev. A legendary figure in the world of competitive shooting, Milev’s accomplishments extend far beyond the collegiate level. Before arriving at Ohio State, he had already cemented his name in Olympic history, becoming just the second U.S. shooter at the time to qualify for six different Olympic events. His resume includes a 1996 Olympic silver medal in rapid-fire pistol, won while competing for Bulgaria.
Since taking the reins in Columbus, Milev has been nothing short of a mastermind, guiding his squad to six national titles in just eight years and elevating Ohio State into an absolute juggernaut. The Buckeyes now boast 10 national championships since 2000, a record that places them among the most dominant programs in any collegiate sport.
Total Domination on the National Stage
Winning a championship is impressive. Winning it by a landslide? That’s a statement. Ohio State didn’t just capture the national title—they completely outclassed the competition.
The Buckeyes recorded an aggregate team score of 4476, finishing a staggering 125 points ahead of runner-up Navy. To put that into perspective, last year, Ohio State’s margin of victory was even more mind-boggling—296 points over Navy, a gap so wide that the difference between second-place Navy and fifth-place Citadel was actually smaller.
This wasn’t just a win—it was an annihilation.
Ohio State Shooters Shine Individually
As if a fifth straight national title wasn’t impressive enough, Ohio State’s athletes dominated the individual leaderboards as well. Six Buckeyes finished in the top 10 for overall aggregate scores, including four of the top five spots. And at the very top? Two Ohio State shooters battling for ultimate supremacy.
- Marcus Klemp delivered a masterclass performance, finishing with an individual aggregate score of 1140, making him the best shooter in the nation.
- Blaine Simpson, just 19 points behind Klemp, not only claimed the second-best overall score but also emerged as the sports pistol champion, tallying an incredible 569 points—beating even Klemp by a single point in that event.
- Abbie Leverett, Riya Salian, Jonathan Doresten, and Evan Langerak rounded out the list of Buckeye shooters who placed in the top 10 nationally.
- Klemp also proved his versatility by finishing second overall in the air pistol event, showing he is a force to be reckoned with in every discipline.
Setting the Bar for Buckeye Athletics
With winter and spring sports seasons heading into their final stretch, the Ohio State pistol team has set a clear standard for excellence. The Buckeyes have now captured two national championships in early 2025—the first from the football team’s historic playoff run, and now this absolute masterclass from the pistol program.
The question now is: Who’s next?
Can Ohio State basketball use this championship energy as fuel to reclaim its former glory? Will wrestling, gymnastics, or hockey rise to the occasion and add more hardware to the Buckeyes’ trophy case?
One thing is certain—Ohio State is in the business of winning, and business is booming.
