Full Results | Concordia Results (PDF)
HAYS, Kan. – The 2025-26 season got underway this past weekend (Sept. 6-7) for Concordia University, Nebraska Shooting Sports. Eighteen Bulldogs competed at the Fort Hays State University Fall Intercollegiate Shoot in Hays, Kan., where Head Coach Dylan Owens’ team came away with a fifth-place high overall finish among 12 teams in the field. The event tested more than 200 athletes in the disciplines of doubles skeet, trap, doubles trap, sporting and super sporting and was held at Hays Sportsmen’s Club on day one and LaSada Lodge on day two.
From an individual perspective, Sam Blevins (first place in men’s trap) and Katie Welker (second place in women's doubles skeet) emerged with headlining performances. Owens, now in his fourth season as head coach, came away pleased with many of the things he saw throughout the weekend, including the efforts of seven freshmen.
“It’s really cool that we had that many freshmen contribute to the team score,” Owens said. “They had some first-time jitters in their first collegiate event. It’s a different kind of feeling. They were still putting up scores good enough to be in our top five. Now we have a foundation that we can build on. It was a long day (on Saturday). That kind of wore on all the teams, but this is the best weather we’ve ever had at Fort Hays.
“We’re trying to focus in and make a push for conference. We want to get to conference and be peaking at that time. After only two weeks of practice, some of those scores are really good. We left a few out there. I think all our athletes would tell you that. I’m really happy with everyone’s attitude and the way they are working together.”
Concordia’s top five overall competitors at the Fort Hays State Shoot combined to crack 1,971 targets out of a possible 2,250. By discipline, the Bulldogs placed fourth in doubles skeet (231/250), fourth in trap (485/500), fourth in doubles trap (447/500), fifth in sporting (432/500) and sixth in super sporting (418/500). In busting 414 total targets (out of 500) on the weekend, the La Grange, Ky., native Blevins finished only six targets off the overall champion from Fort Hays State, Grant Rainey. Next in Concordia’s top five HOA were Devin Harris (406), Welker (398), Kaylee Hinton (378) and Cael Washburn (375).
Both Blevins and Welker took part in shoot-offs. Blevins was a perfect 150/150 after he ran 100 straight in trap before knocking out all 50 targets in the shoot-off. Welker hit 47/50 in doubles skeet before landing in second place in the event. A senior from Hamill, S.D., Welker also earned third place HOA among women at the Fort Hays State Shoot. Blevins also shot team best scores in doubles trap (92) and super sporting (87). In doubles skeet, Harris equaled Welker with a 47. On day two of the event, Harris posted a 92 in sporting.
Owens made mention of the emergence of three freshmen who shot 95 apiece in trap: Brody Ferguson, Jerry Keibel and Josie Strauss. They each claimed spots within the team’s top five in trap. Owens also commended senior Colby Gaines for his improvement while saying, “He’s worked really hard, progressed and grown.” Gaines cracked the team’s top five in super sporting with an 80/100.
The top four in the HOA team standings at the Fort Hays State Shoot were host Fort Hays State (2,074), Iowa Western Community College (2,060), Midland University (2,046) and Hastings College (1,987). The Bulldogs will attempt to close the gap on the competition as the fall continues.
Said Owens, “It’s a starting point. It’s a tough transition for freshmen. It’s also a transition because we’re all in new squads this year. Just about everyone is on a new squad. You have to get used to those changes and be able to communicate.”
Up next, Concordia will be headed to Indianola, Iowa, for the Simpson College Invite on Saturday and Sunday. At last season’s Simpson Invite, the Bulldogs placed fourth out of eight teams.