SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The top trap and skeet programs across the country converged in San Antonio, Texas, March 26 – April 1 for the annual Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Clay Targets Championships. Fourteen Bulldogs entered the fray among the field of 804 shooters with star junior Erin Lokke again earning a spot on the Collegiate USA Skeet Team.
While making its third trip to the national event since the program’s inception, head coach Joel Helmer’s squad placed 10th out of the 11 teams in the Division 2 breakdown of the ACUI Championships. Concordia posted a score of 2,211. It did its best work in American skeet, placing seventh (476/500).
The Bulldogs competed with heavy hearts, making the journey to San Antonio just after learning of the death of team member Hannah Wiedebush’s twin brother Tanner. To honor his memory, Concordia shooters all wrote “H-T” on their wrists.
A native of Saint Francis, Minn., Lokke again paced the Bulldogs on the national stage. Among all men’s and women’s competitors, Lokke (348/400) finished 194th on the overall leaderboard. In an invitation only competition, Lokke finished third in ISO Skeet. She also took part in a shoot-off in American skeet but just missed a place finish.
The next Bulldogs in line following Lokke were Mackenze Origer (340), Ethan Cradick (334), Mitchell Charron (329) and Dustin Renfro (326).
Helmer believes the program will be better equipped for competing at the national level next season when the roster will feature a larger number of upperclassmen. There will also be an influx of talented freshmen.
Bulldogs at ACUI Championships
NAME – AmSkt – AmTrp – SptCly – SupSpt = Total
Erin Lokke – 98 – 92 – 74 – 84 = 348
Mackenze Origer – 96 – 89 – 69 – 86 = 340
Ethan Cradick – 94 – 85 – 74 – 81 = 334
Mitchell Charron – 88 – 94 – 70 – 77 = 329
Dustin Renfro – 96 – 92 – 68 – 70 = 326
Tanner Soveriegn – 89 – 96 – 70 – 64 = 319
Wyatt Eriksen – 92 – 93 – 60 – 67 = 312
Daniel Cahoon – 92 – 89 – 65 – 65 = 311
Luke Comstock – 90 – 92 – 67 – 62 = 310
Sabra Moore – 86 – 89 – 55 – 78 = 308
Brook Wagner – 82 – 87 – 66 – 71 = 306
Kate Esser – 80 – 80 – 71 – 59 = 290
Autumn Wildfeuer – 75 – 87 – 58 – 65 = 285
Tia Pawlowski – 80 – 85 – 54 – 62 = 281