SWCC Shooters place sixth in nation, have strong season finish

You could call them the big shots, because they were on their marks.

The Southwestern Community College (SWCC) sports shooting team placed sixth in the nation in trap shooting during the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Collegiate Clay Target Championships March 24-29.

“Overall the team performed very well for only our second season of having a team,” said head coach Charlie Mundy.

There were approximately 630 student-athletes from 75 colleges competing in the event.

Students from across the nation came from schools such as Harvard, Yale, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas A and M, Texas, Tennessee, United States Military Academy, Alabama, Missouri, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Virginia, Wichita State, Iowa State and many others.

“Some names you may have heard of,” Mundy said.

The SWCC sports shooting team had 15 sports shooting athletes, divided into three squads, who competed. During the finals, the SWCC team shot 479 of 500. Individually, the Spartans had three individuals place.

Mundy said the Spartan athletes placed “pretty well.”

Three ‘Shooters’

Shelby Woods, freshman from Madison, Mo., shot 97 of 100, giving her a ninth place finish in the women’s division. By shooting a score of 95 or better, she receives the opportunity to apply for the United States Olympic training camp. Once selected, she will be invited to train for five days at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., in June.

Brandon Dvorsky, freshman from Solon, shot a 98 of 100 to place 41st for the men’s division. In the men’s division, shooters must hit 98 of 100 to qualify, therefore Dvorsky is eligible to apply for the Olympic Training Camp.

Justin Woods, freshman from Mount Pleasant, shot a 98 of 100, placing 48th for the men and qualifying to apply for the Olympic Training Camp, as well.

Other sports shooters competing for the Spartans included Nick Ballou, Jordan Brand,Trenton Cheers, Jonathan Cox, Chisum Downing, Heath Evans, Ben Fox, Katie Fuller, Ethan Jolliff, Chase McDonald, Matt Mitchell and Easton Ressler.

Undefeated

This is the second year for the Spartans sporting team. The SWCC sports shooting team has traveled throughout the academic year to shooting events, competing against teams from across the Midwest.

The college’s sports shooting team holds practices at the High Lakes Outdoor Alliance near Afton.

“We are currently undefeated as a team in the Iowa Collegiate Shooting Conference and we currently have 11 athletes sitting in the top 20 of the state,” Mundy said.