{"id":2690,"date":"2024-11-04T23:47:38","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T23:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2690"},"modified":"2024-11-04T23:47:38","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T23:47:38","slug":"hillsdale-college-dominates-uspsa-collegiate-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2690","title":{"rendered":"Hillsdale College Dominates USPSA Collegiate Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Scott Wagner<\/a><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he Hillsdale College Action Shooting Team continues to impress. First it won back-to-back national championships in the Scholastic Action Shooting Program<\/a> in 2022 and 2023. Now the Hillsdale Chargers followed up with a fantastic performance at the inaugural United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Collegiate Championship.<\/p>\n

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The hard work of the Hillsdale College Action Shooting Team members earned them top spots across multiple divisions. Image:\u00a0Hillsdale College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Held at Hillsdale\u2019s John A. Halter Shooting Sports Education Center in September, the team landed first place finishes in the Team Open Division and Team Limited Division, edging out competing teams from the United States Naval Academy, Clemson University and others. Likewise, many of the Hillsdale team members placed in individual categories including an impressive one-two finish in the Individual Female Limited Division.<\/p>\n

It was an exciting weekend for all who competed and attended.<\/p>\n

New Competition, New Location<\/h2>\n

Prior to the match held at the school\u2019s new Ailes Action Shooting Range, I talked quite a bit with Head Coach Adam Burlew \u2014 the man who is building the team into a shooting powerhouse. I also had the chance to speak with Jared \u201cMac\u201d McClain Driver who is the Halter Shooting Sports Center Membership and Site Coordinator, Shotgun Coach and Match Director for the National USPSA Competition.<\/p>\n

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The Hillsdale College team\u2019s performance was a highlight of the weekend at the new Ailes Action Shooting Range.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I learned that for the 2024 competition season, it was decided to switch governing bodies for action pistol shooting sports in which the Hillsdale Team would compete. Instead of continuing with the Scholastic Action Pistol Shooting Program \u2014 which served Hillsdale well in launching their pistol shooting program \u2014 Burlew, Driver and the staff of the John A. Halter Shooting Sports Education Center on the Hillsdale Campus decided to compete under the banner of the USPSA. USPSA Michigan Section Coordinator Walt Paegal worked behind the scenes, making sure that the Hillsdale match ran smoothly.<\/p>\n

The Hillsdale Team<\/h2>\n

The 2024 Hillsdale Collegiate Action Pistol Team Competitors were as follows: Taylor Chen (team captain), John Beecher, Clara Bozzay, Brendan Burnham, Jianna Coppola, Joseph Grohs, William Eli Hudson, Jonah Kirstein, Kayla Mullin, Luke Sempsrott and Alexander Vietor. Assisting Burlew was Michael \u201cDoc\u201d Sweeney as an assistant coach. This year\u2019s team included four women.<\/p>\n

John A. Halter Shooting Sports Education Center<\/h2>\n

The John A. Halter Shooting Sports Education Center is located on a 113-acre site just five miles from Hillsdale\u2019s main campus. It has evolved over the last two years from a world-class Olympic Trap and Skeet range to a world-class multi-disciplinary shooting facility thanks to the leadership of the new range manager, Matt Little.<\/p>\n

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Hillsdale College competitors demonstrated disciplined form under pressure as they tackle each stage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is now on-site cabin lodging available for shooters, a major indoor\/outdoor shooting range under construction and the brand-new Ailes Action Shooting Range, which has six pistol shooting bays and a 100-yard rifle range. The Ailes range area was officially dedicated the day after the National Match was over on Monday, September 30. More about that in a bit.<\/p>\n

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Besides the great new Halter Center management, there are three reasons Hillsdale can have a facility like this. First, they do not accept local, state or government funding. They thrive entirely from donations and tuition alone. Second, they also have the strong support of Hillsdale College President Dr. Larry P. Arnn. Third, Dr. Arnn trusts his staff to do a safe and professional job of running things. I can\u2019t think of a single public college campus where a shooting facility like this \u2014 which also offers public memberships \u2014 could be built.<\/p>\n

The Players <\/h2>\n

Springfield Armory was the primary sponsor of this event, having supplied the Hillsdale College team with competition 1911 semi-automatic pistols for the past two years. This year the company provided the Hillsdale College Action Shooting Team with Springfield Armory Echelon pistols. Additionally, the company provided 1911 DS Prodigy pistols for the several team members who preferred 1911-style pistols.<\/p>\n

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Members of the Hillsdale College team shoot Springfield Armory Echelon and 1911 DS Prodigy semi-automatic pistols chambered for 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge. Image:\u00a0Hillsdale College<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I was impressed with the teams and competitors that showed up for this inaugural match. In addition to the Hillsdale College team, the following teams participated in the 2024 National Match:<\/p>\n