HAYS, Kan. – The gun has gone off on the start of the 2021-22 season for Concordia University Shooting Sports. The Bulldogs officially began the new campaign this past weekend (Sept. 11-12) at the Fort Hays State University Fall Intercollegiate Shoot at Hays City Sportsmen’s Club in Hays, Kan., where the Bulldogs placed third high overall out of 11 teams. Colten Uitermarkt and Sam Blevins paced Concordia by cracking the most overall targets over the two-day event.
Head Coach Scott Moniot’s program is coming off a Prairie Circuit Classic Conference title last season. In the first outing of the fall, the Bulldogs turned in the following placements across the different disciplines:
· 2nd in skeet doubles (239)
· 2nd in sporting clays (411)
· 3rd in trap (493)
· 4th in trap doubles (462)
“It went better than what my expectations were,” Moniot said. “The freshmen and the transfer students we brought in have added a great balance to the team. They brought a lot of raw talent to the team too. We had some kids shoot personal bests by more than 10 targets. There’s also something special about this group of seniors and the tone they’ve set for this season. They’ve made it their mission to give us a good solid base for Concordia moving forward. They want to leave a legacy. They really did a great job this weekend of leading like that.”
With 1,568 total targets struck as a team, the Bulldogs placed behind only Fort Hays State (1,629) and Midland (1,605). Concordia’s top five overall shooters were Uitermarkt (326), Blevins (322), Wyatt Hambly (310), Damien Stewart (308) and Jack Nelson (302). Uitermarkt was five targets shy of the Fort Hays State Shoot HOA individual winner and placed in a tie for fourth among all competitors. Blevins also placed inside the top 10.
Said Moniot, “Colten did a solid job all the way through. I think he had three freshmen on his squad so he did a lot of coaching up. That was pretty exciting. Russell (Malterud) shot a 99 (in trap), Brennen (Stones) shot a 99 (in trap) and our freshmen shot well. All in all, it was a good weekend. Sam Blevins was our high shooter in double trap into the wind. He backed it up with our second-best sporting clays total. He’s a rock-solid addition.”
Below is a listing of Bulldogs who finished in the team’s top five in each of the disciplines that Concordia placed either second or third in. Uitermarkt’s name appears in all three categories.
Skeet Doubles
Sam Blevins – 49
Damien Stewart – 49
Claire Kee – 47
Mack Origer – 47
Colten Uitermarkt – 47
Brock Steuben – 47
Sporting Clays
Colten Uitermarkt – 88
Sam Blevins – 84
Claire Kee – 80
Damien Stewart – 80
Wyatt Hambly – 79
Trap
Russell Malterud – 99
Brennen Stones – 99
Colten Uitermarkt – 99
Wayne Moore – 98
Jack Nelson – 98
Concordia took 32 competitors to the Fort Hays State Shoot. The team’s six through 10 spots (in terms of high overall) were held down by Claire Kee (298), Sarah Schwacher (293), Bryce Meeks (292), Wyatt Eriksen (292) and Brennen Stones (291).
The Bulldogs will return to action this Friday through Sunday at the Midland Warrior Open at Lincoln Trap & Skeet Club. The event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. CT each day.