Shooting Competition
Hillsdale College Halter Center Hosts USPSA Collegiate Championship
Hillsdale College Halter Center Hosts USPSA Collegiate Championship
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Hillsdale, Michigan
The Hillsdale College John Anthony Halter Shooting Sports Education Center, in collaboration with Springfield Armory, proudly hosted the second annual United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Collegiate Championship on September 20 at the Ailes Action Shooting Range in Hillsdale, Michigan. This prestigious event gathered a total of 53 collegiate-level shooters competing across two divisions: limited and limited optics, marking a notable increase from last year's inaugural event which hosted 36 competitors. At this year's championship, the Hillsdale Action Shooting Team showcased remarkable skill, achieving second place in both divisions. Notably, Kayla Mullin, a freshman at Hillsdale College, displayed an exceptional performance by winning first place high overall in the limited division, thereby earning the title of collegiate limited division national champion. "Hillsdales shooting sports program attracts skilled and dedicated athletes, and Kaylas achievement is an exciting milestone for the team," commented Adam Burlew, head coach of the Hillsdale College Action Shooting Team. Participants engaged in ten challenging stages of shooting, testing their accuracy and speed in a friendly yet competitive atmosphere. The awards ceremony celebrated the outstanding performances of all the participants. Hillsdale's strong showing comes as no surprise given the college's burgeoning reputation in competitive shooting sports, supported by the state-of-the-art amenities of the Halter Center which features an action shooting range, international skeet fields, and various other training facilities. Hillsdale's competitors included various universities such as Texas A&M University, the U.S. Naval Academy, and Michigan State University, among others. In the limited optics division, Hillsdale's team comprised John Beecher, Joseph Grohs, Jonah Kirstein, and Brendan Burnham, who collectively secured second place with a score of 3,840.84 points, behind Texas A&M University, which achieved 3,898.14 points. Meanwhile, in the limited division, Mullin, Bozzay, Coppola, and Beecher also finished in second, with a score of 2,513.48 points, while the U.S. Naval Academy took first place with 2,662.21 points. A standout feature of this years competition was the collegiate-level shooters' engagement with USPSA matches, which are designed to introduce participants to practical shooting. This focus on collegiate shooters not only fosters skills relevant in the field but also builds a supportive community around shooting sports. As the event continues to grow, it becomes increasingly essential for colleges like Hillsdale to cultivate this environment, providing young athletes with the resources and opportunities to excel. The Halter Center itself is a highlight of Hillsdale College, boasting 113 range acres and numerous shooting disciplines, including skeet and trap shooting, archery, and indoor/outdoor rifle and pistol shooting. As it prepares to welcome even more collegiate events and training sessions in the future, plans for its expansion, including a new indoor/outdoor rifle and pistol building scheduled for completion in summer 2025, are set to further enhance its offerings. In addition to competition and training, the Halter Center is dedicated to introducing shooting sports to individuals of all levels of experience, making it accessible to the public through classes, camps, and annual memberships. This developmental approach aims not only to elevate skill levels but also to promote a responsible and enriching shooting culture that aligns with the principles of the Constitution. Cull through the announcement, you can find more photos and details about the championship and the Halter Center's facilities online. As this annual championship continues to develop, it's pivotal to acknowledge the implications it holds not just for participating colleges but for the greater shooting sports community as well.