Leadership on Target: Isabella Baldwin Named Captain of Navy Rifle Team for 2026-27 Season

The Navy rifle program has a new leader, and she is one of the most accomplished shooters in the country.

Head coach Mike Anti announced that senior Isabella Baldwin has been selected by her teammates as the captain of the Navy rifle team for the 2026-27 season, recognizing not only her elite shooting ability but also her leadership, work ethic, and commitment to excellence both on and off the range.

For Baldwin, the honor represents another milestone in what has already become one of the finest careers in Navy rifle history.

“I am so honored and grateful to have been selected as this year’s team captain,” Baldwin said. “This team has shaped my experience at Navy, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead such a dedicated group of teammates. We hold each other to a high standard every day, and I’m looking forward to what we can accomplish together this season.”

One of the Nation’s Elite Shooters

The Nashville, Tennessee, native enters her senior season as one of the premier rifle athletes in collegiate competition.

During her first three seasons at Navy, Baldwin has:

• Competed in 41 career matches
• Averaged 587.4 in smallbore
• Averaged 595.4 in air rifle
• Compiled an outstanding 1182.8 aggregate average
• Earned nine CRCA All-America honors
• Collected nine All-Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) selections

Her junior campaign was especially impressive.

Baldwin led Navy in every scoring discipline while averaging 587.4 in smallbore, 596.2 in air rifle, and 1183.6 aggregate. She posted a season-high 593 smallbore, fired multiple 598 air rifle rounds, and earned the Josh Watson Memorial Trophy as Navy’s top performer in the annual Army-Navy Star Match.

Success Beyond Annapolis

Baldwin’s accomplishments extend well beyond NCAA competition.

In 2025 she captured the USA Shooting Women’s Junior Olympic Air Rifle Championship, earning the top qualification score before winning the national title. The victory secured her place on Team USA for the Junior Pan-American Games and further established her as one of America’s top young rifle athletes.

She has continued competing at the national level, adding more USA Shooting success while representing both the Naval Academy and the United States.

Excellence in the Classroom

Leadership at the Naval Academy means excelling academically as well as athletically, and Baldwin has done exactly that.

She is a:

• Three-time CRCA Scholastic All-American
• Two-time CSC Academic All-District selection
• CSC Academic All-American

She became just the second student-athlete in Navy rifle history to earn Academic All-America honors, a remarkable achievement considering the demanding academic requirements at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Built for Leadership

Before arriving in Annapolis, Baldwin starred at Harpeth Hall School in Nashville.

Her résumé included:

• Four-year varsity letter winner
• Team captain
• Three Tennessee 3PAR State Championships
• Multiple Tennessee state records
• ELEY All-American
• American Smallbore Shooting Association champion
• Junior Olympic qualifier
• CMP Regional Champion
• Numerous scholastic writing and academic awards

That combination of athletic excellence and leadership made her a natural fit for Navy, where she has continued to thrive.

Navy Returns One of the Nation’s Best Lineups

Baldwin headlines a veteran Navy squad that should again compete among the nation’s elite.

Returning contributors include:

• Tyler Wee – NCAA Championship qualifier who finished seventh nationally with an aggregate score of 1189.
• Parker Haydin – Another NCAA Championship qualifier who finished 13th nationally.
• Ryan Wee – Experienced veteran who provides valuable depth.
• Catherine Dely – Former team captain and experienced senior leader.

With Baldwin taking over as captain, Navy returns much of the core that helped the Midshipmen qualify for the 2026 NCAA Rifle Championships, where they finished sixth nationally against one of the deepest fields in collegiate rifle.

MSB Take

Programs built on consistency are often led by athletes who embody the culture every day, and Isabella Baldwin has become exactly that for Navy rifle.

Her combination of All-America performances, national championships, academic excellence, and proven leadership makes her the ideal choice to captain the Midshipmen entering the 2026-27 season.

With Baldwin leading a veteran roster that includes NCAA standouts Tyler Wee, Parker Haydin, Ryan Wee, and Catherine Dely, Navy appears poised to challenge once again for a Great America Rifle Conference title and another trip to the NCAA Championships. Baldwin’s leadership gives the Midshipmen every reason to believe their best season could still be ahead.