WPU Opens Spring Campaign with Silver at Concordia Shoot

Brainard, Neb.--In its first competition in nearly four months, the Statesmen shotgun sports team performed well at the Concordia Classic Saturday and Sunday.

William Penn finished second out of 13 squads with a score of 1,376-for-1,500.  Midland claimed the crown with 1,390 conversions.

The event featured each shooter seeing 200 Sporting Clays targets (1,000 as a scoring team) and 100 Super Sporting targets (500 as a scoring team).

The navy and gold, who had not battled since November 1, placed second in the Sporting Clays at 913-for-1,000 with Emily Sjoberg (So., Citrus Heights, Calif., Business Management) leading the way at 185-for-200.

Wyatt Kresser (Jr., Independence, Iowa, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management) was next at 183-for-200, while Connor Gittings (Sr., Kansas City, Mo., Biology) and Nikolle Kussatz (Jr., Leighton, Iowa, Biology) were both at 182-for-200.

Cole Henning (Jr., Wilton, Iowa, Industrial Technology) wrapped up the team scoring at 181-for-200.

WPU was third in Super Sporting with a score of 463-for-500.  Kresser's tally of 97-for-100 topped the Statesmen, while Ian Darragh (Fr., Eagle, Idaho, Business Management) and Izaac Zihlman (Fr., Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Business Management) followed at 92-for-100.

Henning and Nathan Roberts (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) concluded WPU's scoring at 91-for-100.

Kresser tied for second in the High Overall Athlete standings at 280-for-300, just two shots behind the leader.  Henning's 272-for-300 was good enough to tie for sixth.

Sjoberg guided all Female HOA shooters at 272-for-300, while Kussatz was right behind her in second at 271-for-300.

"The athletes have been working hard these last several weeks in practice," Head Coach Colten Uitermarkt said.  "The spring season is short, and everyone is making the most of it so far.  This weekend was an excellent shoot to show our strengths and weaknesses.  With two weeks left before nationals, each athlete now knows what to work on specifically in practice."

"I could not be more proud of each and every athlete," Uitermarkt added.  "Everyone shot extremely well.  With one common goal in mind, each practice we are working our way towards the biggest show in collegiate shooting sports."

Next Up: William Penn travels to Lenexa, Kan. next Saturday and Sunday to compete in the first-ever Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship.