Shotgun sports won its 17^th title in program history by capturing the ACUI-SCTP Collegiate Clay Target Championships Saturday at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas. The Lions also had 14 shooters that earned All-American status at the event.

Competition began with Sporting Clays on Tuesday for Lindenwood. The Lions hit 474/500 targets to finish second in the team event, 11 targets behind event winner Texas A & M (485) and 13 ahead of Schreiner University in third. Scores came from Christian Jackowski (96), Reece Sparks (95), Grace Corselli (95), Trace Hatfield (94), and Klayton McGee (94). Later in the day, it was time for Doubles Skeet and Lindenwood posted a total of 481/500 to take third, finishing eight targets behind William Penn in second and 14 targets behind A & M. Mathew Blankenship (98), Konnor Vohs (96), Ryan Pena (96), Dylan Joel (96), and Gavin Narvarro (95) accounted for the Lions scores in the event.

Lindenwood had its best performance of the week on Wednesday in American Trap with a perfect 500/500 to take the team title outright. Evan Elder, Wyatt Williams, Dylan Joel, Jacob Diller, and Tristan Stubbs all hit 100/100. William Penn took second with 496, followed by Texas A & M with 490.

The Lions shot Doubles Trap and Super Sporting on Thursday. Lindenwood won the Doubles Trap event with 488/500 with Samuel Gilman (99), Landon Sievers (98), Klayton McGee (98), Wyatt Baine (97), and Jake Deane (96) contributing scores. Texas A & M finished in second, 17 targets behind, with William Penn in third 20 targets behind. The Lions tied with Texas A & M in Super Sporting, each with scores of 484/500. A 10-target shoot-off ensued with Lindenwood losing 8-6 to settle for second place. Reece Sparks (97), Matthew Lorio (97), Tristan Stubbs (97), Kelan Kinion (97), and Landon Sievers (96) accounted for the Lions scores prior to the shoot-off.

The final event for Lindenwood was American Skeet. The Lions hit 492 targets out of 500, initially tying with William Penn for third. Lindenwood won the shoot-off 10-9 to claim third with the Statesmen taking fourth. Clemson won the event outright with 496, followed by Texas A & M with 494. Samuel Gilman (100), Jordan Ziercher (98), Mathew Blankenship (98), Reece Sparks (98), and Ryan Pena (98) contributed to the Lindenwood effort.

As the dust settled from all teams finishing the six events of the week, the Division I championship still wasn't decided. After 3,000 total targets, both the Lions and Aggies ended up tying with a score of 2,919, resulting in a shoot-off to determine who would take the title. Lindenwood outshot Texas A & M 165-162 to hoist the trophy.

Individually, Matthew Blankenship, Grace Corcelli, Mathew Lorio, and Landon Sievers earned First Team All-American status. Corcelli also earned Ladies All-American honors as well. Eight Lions earned Second Team All-American status including Trace Hatfield, Christian Jackowski, Tristan Stubbs, Connor Vohs, Benjamin Warwick, Reece Sparks, and Wyatt Williams. Kelan Kinion, Ryan Pena, and Sam Gilman earned Honorable Mention.

The shotgun sports team still has some competition remaining for the season. A contingent of Lions will head back to San Antonio April 11-15 for the Triple J Classic.

Complete ACUI-SCTP Clay Target National Championships Results