GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – Sophomores Bryon Baca and Sarah Schwacher both rose to the top of the podium while spearheading the efforts of the Concordia University shooting sports team at last week’s Hastings Bronco Invitational (Oct. 12-13) in Grand Island, Neb. As a team, the Bulldogs set new school standards in wobble trap (479) and skeet doubles (463).
Head coach Scott Moniot’s program has now competed in five events this fall and was fresh off hosting the Bulldog Sporting Classic (Oct. 5-6) the previous week. At the Bronco Invite, Concordia finished third high overall (out of 10 squads) with a team total of 2,280, putting it behind only Fort Hays State University (2,346) and Midland (2,315).
A native of Waterford, Wis., Schwacher enjoyed a stellar two days in Grand Island. Schwacher won the skeet competition (96) among women’s competitors and also placed as the HOA female runner up. Schwacher knocked out scores of 96 in skeet, 74 in sporting, 88 in wobble, 95 in trap and 93 in skeet doubles on her way to a total of 446 (one target out of first place HOA).
Baca was nearly perfect in wobble trap (99) while winning the competition. Teammates who contributed to the team record in the discipline were sophomore Sam Philson (96), junior Wyatt Eriksen (96), freshman Blake Greckel (94) and senior Sabra Moore (94). The team’s wobble total of 479 put the Bulldogs in third, five targets out of second and 13 out of first.
Five Concordia shooters cracked 89 or more targets in setting a new program standard in skeet doubles. Those individuals were sophomores Damien Stewart (94), Colten Uitermarkt (94), Wyatt Hambly (93), Schwacher (93) and junior Emma Van Donselaar (89). The Bulldogs’ total of 463 put them only seven targets out of first place in the event.
There were plenty of other notable individual place finishes. Baca and Schwacher both placed second in trap. In skeet doubles, Schwacher and Stewart placed third while Uitermarkt landed in fourth. In skeet, Van Donselaar and junior Rebecca Tierney placed second and fourth, respectively. Not only did Baca win in wobble trap, Moore placed fourth.
The Bulldogs continue to be led substantially by underclassmen. In terms of performances that contributed to team scoring, Concordia was led by seven sophomores, two freshmen, two juniors and one senior.
The Bulldogs will not have a competition this week, but members of the team will be at Oak Creek Sporting Club in Brainard, Neb., this Friday through Sunday for the Kids & Clays Sporting Clays Tournament that will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities.