Lokke places second, three Bulldogs land on freshman all-conference team

By Jacob Knabel on Oct. 2, 2018 in Shooting Sports

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – The season rolled on for the Concordia University shooting sports team with an appearance over the weekend (Sept. 29-30) at the Prairie Circuit Classic Fall Championship in North Platte, Neb. What essentially served as the fall conference championships involving squads from five different states, the Bulldogs placed sixth high overall among 10 teams, including shooting sports heavyweights in Fort Hays State University and Midland.

First-year head coach Scott Moniot’s program emerged from the event with several standout individual performances. Once again, senior Erin Lokke headlined Concordia’s efforts by cracking 430 targets (over five events) for a women’s second high overall finish.

“With a lineup of 15 freshmen, we held our own,” said Moniot at Tuesday (Oct. 2)’s Bulldog Athletic Association luncheon. “Erin came out and absolutely rocked it. She was only four targets out of winning the female division. We also had some of our freshmen step up. They really produced well this weekend. Wyatt Hambly was only beat by one other freshman. We missed making the podium on a couple of events by two-to-four targets. For a young team, it was pretty impressive.”

Lokke scored in the 90s in trap (96), skeet (94) and skeet doubles (93). The performance came a week after the Saint Francis, Minn., native took gold in international skeet at the ACUI Western International Championship in Colorado Springs. Said Moniot, “Erin is a dominant competitor, not just for our school, but in the country. She showed true grit out there this past weekend in tough conditions.”

A total of 27 Bulldogs made the trip to North Platte. A very freshman-laden team showed that it belonged. Concordia turned its highest team finish in super sporting (310), placing third. In addition to Hambly earning a spot on the all-conference freshman men’s team, Bulldogs Emily Rasmussen and Sara Schwacher made their way on to an exclusive five-member all-conference freshman women’s team.

Concordia’s top five shooters, in terms of high overall, at the Prairie Circuit Classic were Hambly (431), Lokke (430), freshmen Colten Uitermarkt (408) and Sam Philson (398) and sophomore Mackenze Origer (385). Hambly also hit more than 90 targets in three separate events.

“All-in-all, we had a really successful weekend,” Moniot said. "The kids are learning what it means to shoot in a college tournament. We have a lot of steam moving forward.”

Now it’s Concordia’s chance to host. The program will welcome 13 colleges from seven different states to this Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 6-7)’s Bulldog Sporting Classic. Concordia’s home venue is Oak Creek Sporting Club in Brainerd, Neb.