The Upper Iowa shotgun sports team wrapped up the 2022 portion of their schedule in a big way this past weekend at the NCSSAA Iowa State Championship. The event was held at New Pioneer Gun Club in Waukee, Iowa, and featured teams from seven different Iowa schools.
 
Each competitor shot 100 targets in three different disciplines over the course of two days and 50 targets in one other discipline. The teams shot American trap and sporting clays on Saturday before shooting skeet and super sporting clays on Sunday. The five athletes with the best combined scores across the four disciplines contributed to the team's high overall average.
 
UIU were able to finish second overall, breaking a total of 1,411 out of 1,750 targets. William Penn University finished with the top score at 1,566, while Simpson College placed third with a score of 1,388. In addition to their overall second place finish, the Peacocks placed inside the top three as a team in each discipline.
 
In trap shooting, UIU finished in third place hitting 446/500 targets. Individually, Connor Gittings led the way with a score of 94/100. Angelina Monfrey placed fourth among female competitors with a score of 90/100. Colton Heintz-Kuderer, Gage Witzke, and Lucas Riberich also contributed to the team's score.
 
In sporting clays, the Peacocks claimed second place with a score of 346/500. Riberich paced the team, finishing sixth overall individually with a score of 76/100 after losing a shoot-off. Heintz-Kuderer recorded a score of 71/100, while Jayden Shaw, Luke Recker, and Monfrey also helped make up the team score.
 
On Sunday, UIU finished third in skeet shooting with a total of 450/500 targets. Riberich earned a second-place finish among male competitors with a score of 98/100. He was followed on the team by Heintz-Kuderer (96/100) and Shaw (91/100). Monfrey and Boe Caplan rounded out the team score.
 
In super sporting clays, the Peacocks placed second with a score of 190/250. Heintz-Kuderer officially placed seventh individually with a score of 43/100 having lost in a three-person shoot-off for fifth place. He was followed on the team by Riberich and Recker, who each recorded a score of 38/50. Shaw (37/50) and Monfrey (34/50) also added to the team score.  
 
"The team stayed persistent throughout the whole weekend. Placing top three as a team in all events and second in HOA really shows the work these student-athletes have put in this fall," said Head Coach Reba Kingsley. 
 
Up next, the UIU shotgun sports team will break for the winter before returning to the range on February 25 for the Lindenwood Invite, hosted by Lindenwood University, in St. Louis, Missouri.