WAUKEE, Iowa – In the final outing prior to the national championships, the Concordia University Shooting Sports team ventured to New Pioneer Gun Club in Waukee, Iowa, this past weekend and placed second out of eight squads at the Simpson College Invitational (March 12-13). In a shoot that featured four separate disciplines, the Bulldogs cracked 1,517 total targets while finishing behind only William Penn University (Iowa), which hit 1,547 targets. Individually, Jack Nelson emerged as Concordia’s top overall shooter while Mack Origer ran off 100 straight in skeet.
The event marked the Bulldogs’ third outing during the spring semester and eighth overall during the 2021-22 season. With the passing of Head Coach Scott Moniot in November, former Concordia star Erin Lokke has been among those who have lent their services to the program this spring.
By category at the Simpson Invite, Concordia won skeet (492) and placed second in trap (469), second in sporting (346) and second in super sporting in what was a clear two-horse race between the Bulldogs and William Penn. The top five individual overall shooters for the Bulldogs were Nelson (299), Sam Blevins (294), Wyatt Hambly (294), Russell Malterud (293) and Nicole Breese (290). In the HOA competition, Nelson finished eight targets off the male champion and Breese was five targets off the female champion.
Below is a summary of the top five Concordia competitors in each discipline. Officially, Origer placed second in skeet after shooting a perfect 100. William Penn’s Dominick Ver Meer also shot a 100 and was the male high overall champion. Concordia’s Emily Rasmussen shot 99/100 in skeet. The top Bulldog female shooters after Breese were Claire Kee (289), Emily Uitermarkt (285) and Sarah Schwacher (282).
Concordia top shooters – Simpson Invite
High Overall
1. Jack Nelson – 299
2. Sam Blevins – 294
2. Wyatt Hambly – 294
4. Russell Malterud – 293
5. Nicole Breese – 290
Trap
1. Sam Blevins – 97
2. Jack Nelson – 95
3. Brennen Stones – 93
4. Wayne Moore – 92
4. Emily Rasmussen – 92
Sporting
1. Wayne Moore – 70
1. Jack Nelson – 70
3. Claire Kee – 69
3. Russell Malterud – 69
5. Wyatt Hambly – 68
Skeet
1. Mack Origer – 100
2. Emily Rasmussen – 99
3. Nicole Breese – 98
3. Wyatt Hambly – 98
5. Russell Malterud – 97
5. Thomas Sosso – 97
Super Sporting
1. Sam Blevins – 42
1. Wyatt Eriksen – 42
1. Claire Kee – 42
1. Sarah Schwacher – 42
1. Emily Uitermarkt – 42
The 2021-22 season will wrap up with the ACUI Collegiate Clay Target National Championships from March 19-26. The event is staged at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas. At the 2021 national shoot, the Bulldogs placed seventh in the division 2 breakdown. More information on the National Championships can be found via the ACUI’s website HERE.