Colleges ‘N Guns: 2008 intercollegiate clay target championship largest in history!

By Larry S. Moore

It seems lately that colleges and guns are in the news. All too much of this news has to do with the variety of deranged individuals who have preyed upon their fellow students on campus. It has to do with the anti-gun community disgusting and rather morbid attempts to turn the death of innocent students into fund raising events. And it has to do with some courageous students taking a stand for their right to self-defense while attending college.

So, here is some good news about college students, young guns and the shooting sports that most of the mainstream media will ignore.

The collegiate college clay target championship was the largest in their 40 year history! (See press release from NSSF) Go forth and shout the good news for the shooting sports and responsible gun ownership.

So have you seen this reported on the local or national evening news? College kids and guns don’t make the news unless it is controversial. No AP stories are circulating either. No national championship parades. The saddest part of this is that the respective college football stadiums or basketball arenas will not be filled to capacity to welcome home the team.

All their ammunition and firearm purchases fund the Pittman-Robertson Act where the money is returned to the states for promoting the shooting sports, hunter education and wildlife conservation. In addition to having fun, representing their college and competing for a national championship, this sport is funding conservation efforts across our nation.

As reported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation(NSSF), the championships will be presented on June 13, 20, 27 and July 4, 11 on ESPNU, and July 23 on ESPN2.

Congratulations and a tip of my shooting hat to all these fine young collegiate athletes. And yes, I wish my trap shooting were good enough to even think about competing with them!

Outdoor writer and hunter education instructor Larry S. Moore is a long-time volunteer leader for Buckeye Firearms Association and winner of the 2005 USSA Patriot Award and 2007 League of Ohio Sportsmen/Ohio Wildlife Federation Hunter Educator of the Year.

Collegiate Clay Target Championship Largest in 40-Year History

Lindenwood University Claims Fifth Straight Title

SAN ANTONIO -- Lindenwood University of St. Charles, Mo., has claimed its fifth straight national title, topping Texas A&M, Kansas State and 30-plus other colleges at the 2008 Intercollegiate Clay Target Championships.

The four-day competition, held annually for the past 40 years, ended Sunday at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio. Events included international trap and skeet and American trap and skeet.

Shooters also competed in a five-stand sporting clays competition taped for upcoming broadcast on ESPN networks. Six airings are scheduled: June 13, 20, 27 and July 4, 11 on ESPNU, and July 23 on ESPN2.

"With over 295 registered competitors, 38 colleges and several first-time schools in this year's field, this was the largest-ever collegiate clay target championship. It's gratifying to see growing interest in shooting sports," said Chris Dolnack of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), which sponsors both the event and ESPN production.

Top 20 Teams (High Overall)
1. Lindenwood University, 1,528 out of 1,600 targets
2. Texas A&M University, 1,522
3. Kansas State University, 1,447
4. Colorado State University, 1,427
5. University of Missouri-Columbia, 1,427
6. Fort Hays State University, 1,415
7. George Mason University, 1,412
8. Virginia Tech University, 1,405
9. Trinity University, 1,404
10. Southeastern Illinois College, 1,341
11. Sam Houston State University, 1,284
12. Kansas State University, Team 2, 1,283
13. University of Wyoming, 1,261
14. Purdue University, 1,246
15. Lindenwood University, Team 2, 1,240
16. Radford University, 1,217
17. University of Louisiana-Lafayette, 1,178
18. University of Nebraska-Omaha, 1,171
19. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 1,170
20. Eastern Kentucky University, 1,152

Top 20 Men (High Overall)
1. Derrick Mein, Kansas State University, 386 out of 400 targets
2. Brazos Lackey, Texas A&M University, 384
3. Mark Schutzius, Lindenwood University, 383
4. Nicholas Gamel, Lindenwood University, 378
5. Robert Auerbach, Lindenwood University, 375
6. James Gougler, Texas A&M University, 370
7. Troy Kensinger, Texas A&M University, 369
8. Matthew Hoffman, Lindenwood University, 369
9. Michael Hahn, Lindenwood University, 367
10. Travis Mears, Lindenwood University, 366
11. Brett Buehler, Iowa State University, 364
12. Donnie Gustin, Lindenwood University, 364
13. Jesse Molstre, Lindenwood University, 364
14. Dennis Caselman, University of Missouri-Columbia, 362
15. Dennis Schuster, Schreiner University, 362
16. Jon Shockley, Lindenwood University, 362
17. Jesse Musser, Blinn College, 360
18. Stephen Guerrero, Colorado State University, 359
19. Christopher Cook, Lindenwood University, 357
20. B.J. Blanchard, Lindenwood University, 356

Top 20 Ladies (High-Overall)
1. Laura Kolb, Texas A&M University, 352 out of 400 targets
2. Alexandra Chiang, Lindenwood University, 338
3. Jenna McLean, Lindenwood University, 329
4. Jessica Forbes, Lindenwood University, 326
5. Corina Bass, Lindenwood University, 322
6. Victoria Reynolds, Texas A&M University, 318
7. Andrea Steffan, George Mason University, 315
8. Danielle Shuster, George Mason University, 314
9. Cassandra Ding, Lindenwood University, 302
10. Geri Williams, Lindenwood University, 299
11. Tiffany Lovelady, Fort Hays State University, 294
12. Jenny Romanin, Colorado State University, 289
13. Emma Koontz, Virginia Tech University, 284
14. McKinley White, Trinity University, 274
15. Diana Vasquez, Kansas State University, 274
16. Allison Troester, Radford University, 270
17. Rachael Heiden, Schreiner University, 253
18. Cassi Roberts, Southeastern Illinois College, 248
19. Amy Klein, University of Central Missouri, 245
20. Stephanie Walters, University of Missouri-Columbia, 242

Scholarships, medals and spots on Olympic development teams were awarded.

Intercollegiate Clay Target Championships sponsors include the Association of College Unions International, NSSF, Winchester, National Rifle Association, Amateur Trapshooting Association and Hall of Fame, USA Shooting and National Skeet Shooting Association/National Sporting Clays Association.

More info at the ACUI Web site.

Also see: Arizona crowns state youth skeet champion.