(Left to right): Ben Zuver, Matthew Walters, Sam Boyer, Stephen Foy, Wyatt St. John, Niko Lopez, Ruth Abel and Mackenzie Bird.
(Left to right): Ben Zuver, Matthew Walters, Sam Boyer, Stephen Foy, Wyatt St. John, Niko Lopez, Ruth Abel and Mackenzie Bird.
WINONA LAKE — The Grace Shooting Sports Club (GSSC) at Grace College recently competed at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas. This is the second time Grace has competed at the national level in team history. Two of the GSSC team members won medals for their performances.  Ruth Abel won a gold medal in Women’s Trap Doubles - B Class and a bronze medal in Women’s Skeet - A Class. Wyatt St. John won a silver medal in Men’s Trap Doubles - A Class.

 The competition, hosted by the Association of College Unions International and the Scholastic Clay Target Program, lasted a week and hosted 795 athletes from 74 colleges and universities across the nation.  Participants shot in six events: trap, skeet, sporting clays, trap doubles, skeet doubles and super sporting clays.

Many of the GSSC team members posted personal bests, including Ben Zuver, who shot 99 out of 100 in trap in his final collegiate competition.  Zuver also shot a personal best of 97 in skeet.  Additionally, Sam Boyer posted a 93 in trap doubles and Mackenzie Bird shot 40/50 in trap doubles.  St. John and Niko Lopez recorded their first 25 straights in skeet.

As a team, the GSSC performed well in all six events throughout the week, placing between 5th and 8th place.

“Once again, our shooting team represented Grace in an exceptional way,” said Paul Blair, GSSC head coach. “Not only did they compete well, but they also displayed a Christ-centered attitude throughout the week. It is wonderful to have the backing of Grace and the support of many family members who came out to encourage our team.”

GSSC is a recreational shotgun shooting club that focuses on promoting gun safety, enhancing shooting skills and connecting with the shooting community. The group strives to promote a positive image of shooting sports, provide opportunities for leadership development and enhance community awareness of safe shooting practices.

The GSSC is open to all Grace students and meets twice a month at KOSKO Shotgun Sports Complex, 2391 Fox Farm Road, Warsaw. Practices include shooting a variety of sporting clays, traps and skeet.

To learn more about GSSC, contact coach Paul Blair at [email protected].