Rifle Announces Three Signees
4/15/2026 12:30:00 PM | Women's Rifle
Trio will join the squad this fall
STATESBORO - Georgia Southern head rifle coach Soren Butler has announced the signing of three athletes who will join the program in the fall as new Eagles.
The signees are, in alphabetical order: Chloe Parish, from Conway, Arkansas; Carlee Valenta, from Harrison City, Pennsylvania, who transfers from UTEP with two years of eligibility left; and Leyi Xu, from Shanghai, China.
Chloe Parish • Conway, Ark. • Arkansas Virtual Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Arkansas Virtual Academy … Club teams were Team Winning Solutions, coached by Olympic Silver Medalist Lucas Kozeniesky, and Central Arkansas Hawkeyes, coached by Bryan Herburger … Took first place and third place in the junior women Winter Grand Prix … Won the Air Nationals … A multiple-time Junior Olympic qualifier for air rifle … Winner of the Arkansas CMP 3x20 Air Rifle Match in 2024 and 2025.
PERSONAL: Born Chloe Madeline Parish on September 11 in Little Rock, AR … Daughter of Jon and Paige Parish … Has two siblings, Zach and Kaity.
INTENDED MAJOR: Exercise Science
WORDS FROM COACH SOREN: "I've been able to follow Chloe through a few years now through the recruitment process and am excited to have her join the team. She has seen huge progress in her training this year and has had some great showings at recent matches. I think she will be a great addition to the team. "
Carlee Valenta • Harrison City, Pa. • UTEP
2025-26: A second-team All-American by the CRCA in air rifle … Averaged 584.538 in smallbore, 596.308 in air rifle and 1,180.846 in aggregate … Competed in all 13 matches … Led the squad six times in smallbore and five times in air rifle … Registered the highest aggregate score six times … Twice shot a 592 in smallbore, at Ohio State on Nov. 9 and at home on Nov. 22 … Tied her career best with a 599 air rifle on Oct. 11 at Air Force … Shot an 1,190 aggregate on Nov. 9 at Ohio State.
2024-25: An NCAA At-Large qualifier in air rifle, finishing 17th with a 595 … Averaged 578.214 in smallbore, 594.467 in air rifle and 1,172.643 in aggregate … Competed in all 14 matches … Led the squad 12 times in air rifle and three times in smallbore … Registered the highest aggregate score eight times … Fired two school records versus Alaska Fairbanks in the NCAA qualifier match, a 599 in air rifle and an 1,181 aggregate … Was a top-10 shooter 12 times including being the top shooter of the match twice: versus Jax State in back-to-back matches … Earned the Golden Pick Awards Team MVP and Women's Newcomer of the Year … A CRCA Scholastic All-American.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Penn Trafford High, where she shot on the varsity squad for four years for Coaches Diana Cholock and Dale Emerick … The 2024 PIAA State Champion … WPIAL Team Runner-Up (2023) … Dave Cramer Rifle Perfect Season Award (2023) … A member of the National Honor Society … The Spanish Honor Society-Vice President … Club team was Team Winning Solutions, coached by Chance Cover … The 2023 Pennsylvania Prone State Championship (High Women & High Junior) … A multiple-time Junior Olympics qualifer … Also participated in gymnastics.
PERSONAL: Born Carlee Ann Valenta on October 4 in Jeannette, PA … Daughter of James and Brenda Valenta … Has one brother, Austin, and one sister, Emily … Emily shoots at Ohio State.
INTENDED MAJOR: Education
WORDS FROM COACH SOREN: "We wanted to make a push from the Portal this year and Carlee gave us that opportunity. She has emerged as one of the top shooters in the NCAA and she will have an immediate impact on our outcomes. She brings a wealth of experience and leadership as well as scores to the Boro."
Leyi Xu • Shanghai, China
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Ready Global Academy … Club team was Shanghai Putuo District Shooting Team, coached by Yiji Cai … Won the 2025 Shanghai Youth Shooting Championships (Group A) in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team and took second in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team while placing fourth in 50m Rifle Prone (60 shots), fifth in the 10m Air Rifle (60 shots) and eighth in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions … Air Rifle Mixed Team took sixth in the 2025 Shanghai Youth Shooting Championships (Group A) while the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Mixed Team took seventh … Finished seventh in the 10m Air Rifle at that event … Placed second in the Women's 10m Air Rifle (60 shots) Team at the 2024 Shanghai Shooting Championships (Group A) Placed seventh at the 2024 Shanghai Youth Shooting Championships (Group A) in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team … Won the 2024 Shanghai Students Games (Shooting) in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team and placed seventh in the Women's 10m Air Rifle … Placed second at the 2023 Shanghai Youth Shooting Championships (Group A) in Women's 10m Air Rifle (60 shots) Team and third in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team … Took first place in the 2022 Shanghai 17th Sports Games in Women's 50m Rifle Prone and third in Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions.
PERSONAL: Born Leyi Xu on April 29 in Shanghai, China … Daughter of Lijun Wang and Jun Xu.
INTENDED MAJOR: Sport Management
WORDS FROM COACH SOREN: "We're really excited to welcome Leyi to our team. It's been fun following her the last few years and we look forward to having her join us in Statesboro next fall. She brings an immediate presence in air and shows extreme potential in smallbore."
Future signees will be announced when official.
The signees are, in alphabetical order: Chloe Parish, from Conway, Arkansas; Carlee Valenta, from Harrison City, Pennsylvania, who transfers from UTEP with two years of eligibility left; and Leyi Xu, from Shanghai, China.
Chloe Parish • Conway, Ark. • Arkansas Virtual Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Arkansas Virtual Academy … Club teams were Team Winning Solutions, coached by Olympic Silver Medalist Lucas Kozeniesky, and Central Arkansas Hawkeyes, coached by Bryan Herburger … Took first place and third place in the junior women Winter Grand Prix … Won the Air Nationals … A multiple-time Junior Olympic qualifier for air rifle … Winner of the Arkansas CMP 3x20 Air Rifle Match in 2024 and 2025.
PERSONAL: Born Chloe Madeline Parish on September 11 in Little Rock, AR … Daughter of Jon and Paige Parish … Has two siblings, Zach and Kaity.
INTENDED MAJOR: Exercise Science
WORDS FROM COACH SOREN: "I've been able to follow Chloe through a few years now through the recruitment process and am excited to have her join the team. She has seen huge progress in her training this year and has had some great showings at recent matches. I think she will be a great addition to the team. "
Carlee Valenta • Harrison City, Pa. • UTEP
2025-26: A second-team All-American by the CRCA in air rifle … Averaged 584.538 in smallbore, 596.308 in air rifle and 1,180.846 in aggregate … Competed in all 13 matches … Led the squad six times in smallbore and five times in air rifle … Registered the highest aggregate score six times … Twice shot a 592 in smallbore, at Ohio State on Nov. 9 and at home on Nov. 22 … Tied her career best with a 599 air rifle on Oct. 11 at Air Force … Shot an 1,190 aggregate on Nov. 9 at Ohio State.
2024-25: An NCAA At-Large qualifier in air rifle, finishing 17th with a 595 … Averaged 578.214 in smallbore, 594.467 in air rifle and 1,172.643 in aggregate … Competed in all 14 matches … Led the squad 12 times in air rifle and three times in smallbore … Registered the highest aggregate score eight times … Fired two school records versus Alaska Fairbanks in the NCAA qualifier match, a 599 in air rifle and an 1,181 aggregate … Was a top-10 shooter 12 times including being the top shooter of the match twice: versus Jax State in back-to-back matches … Earned the Golden Pick Awards Team MVP and Women's Newcomer of the Year … A CRCA Scholastic All-American.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Penn Trafford High, where she shot on the varsity squad for four years for Coaches Diana Cholock and Dale Emerick … The 2024 PIAA State Champion … WPIAL Team Runner-Up (2023) … Dave Cramer Rifle Perfect Season Award (2023) … A member of the National Honor Society … The Spanish Honor Society-Vice President … Club team was Team Winning Solutions, coached by Chance Cover … The 2023 Pennsylvania Prone State Championship (High Women & High Junior) … A multiple-time Junior Olympics qualifer … Also participated in gymnastics.
PERSONAL: Born Carlee Ann Valenta on October 4 in Jeannette, PA … Daughter of James and Brenda Valenta … Has one brother, Austin, and one sister, Emily … Emily shoots at Ohio State.
INTENDED MAJOR: Education
WORDS FROM COACH SOREN: "We wanted to make a push from the Portal this year and Carlee gave us that opportunity. She has emerged as one of the top shooters in the NCAA and she will have an immediate impact on our outcomes. She brings a wealth of experience and leadership as well as scores to the Boro."
Leyi Xu • Shanghai, China
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Ready Global Academy … Club team was Shanghai Putuo District Shooting Team, coached by Yiji Cai … Won the 2025 Shanghai Youth Shooting Championships (Group A) in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team and took second in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team while placing fourth in 50m Rifle Prone (60 shots), fifth in the 10m Air Rifle (60 shots) and eighth in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions … Air Rifle Mixed Team took sixth in the 2025 Shanghai Youth Shooting Championships (Group A) while the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Mixed Team took seventh … Finished seventh in the 10m Air Rifle at that event … Placed second in the Women's 10m Air Rifle (60 shots) Team at the 2024 Shanghai Shooting Championships (Group A) Placed seventh at the 2024 Shanghai Youth Shooting Championships (Group A) in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team … Won the 2024 Shanghai Students Games (Shooting) in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team and placed seventh in the Women's 10m Air Rifle … Placed second at the 2023 Shanghai Youth Shooting Championships (Group A) in Women's 10m Air Rifle (60 shots) Team and third in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team … Took first place in the 2022 Shanghai 17th Sports Games in Women's 50m Rifle Prone and third in Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions.
PERSONAL: Born Leyi Xu on April 29 in Shanghai, China … Daughter of Lijun Wang and Jun Xu.
INTENDED MAJOR: Sport Management
WORDS FROM COACH SOREN: "We're really excited to welcome Leyi to our team. It's been fun following her the last few years and we look forward to having her join us in Statesboro next fall. She brings an immediate presence in air and shows extreme potential in smallbore."
Future signees will be announced when official.
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