Hillsdale College is different from your average institute of higher learning in many ways. Founded in 1844, the school refuses to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies-even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans-which frees Hillsdale from government interference. So it's no surprise that Hillsdale has long offered a competitive shotgun team, the Charger shotgun team. And they've excelled: On March 29, the Charger shotgun team won the Association of College Unions International's (ACUI) College Clay Targets Tournament for Division III on March 29. The team championship is Hillsdale's third in four years. The team earned individual championships in three events: Combined American, Combined Trap and International Trap.
“Every team member contributed to the win this week with great individual showings among all shooters,” said coach Mike Carl. “Great leadership from our seniors helped the team focus and excel on the final day of the tournament.”
Sophomore Clay Moniot (Kansas City, Kansas) finished first overall in men's Combined Trap and first overall in American Trap. Sophomore Kie Kababik (Townsend, Delaware) took home top honors for men's Combined American (trap and skeet) after finishing second overall in American Trap. Sophomore Casey Inks (Waterford, Pennsylvania) was named ladies' International Trap champion, with senior Anna Pfaff (Morris, Illinois) finishing second overall. Freshman Drew Lieske (Oxford, Michigan) and sophomore Jordan Hintz (Burlington, Wisconsin) were the first Chargers in team history to be named 2nd Team All Americans. Lieske and Hintz also led the team as high overall shooters.
More than 600 students participated in the tournament, held March 24-29 at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas. They represented 73 schools, including 34 schools in Division III.
Hillsdale College's shotgun team trains at the John Anthony Halter Shooting Sports Education Center, a 112-acre facility just five miles from campus. It features four American trap fields, a small-arms range, a skeet field for both American and International skeet, an International/Olympic bunker trap field, a five-stand sporting clays field, and a lodge and education center. Construction begins this spring on a sporting clays field and an outdoor archery range that will meet specifications for National Collegiate Athletic Association competitions and Olympic shooting. Future plans for the Halter Center include the construction of a combination rifle and pistol range and an indoor air gun and archery range.
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