The Upper Iowa shotgun sports team returned to action this past weekend at the Simpson Shootout. The event was hosted by Simpson College at New Pioneer Gun Club in Waukee, Iowa. Teams from 11 different schools competed over the course of two days.

Each competitor shot 350 targets across four different disciplines with the top five scores counting towards the team's score in each discipline. The teams shot 100 American trap and sporting clay targets on Saturday before shooting 100 American skeet and 50 super sporting clay targets on Sunday. The five athletes with the best combined scores across all disciplines contributed to the team's high overall average.
 
UIU finished in sixth place with a team HOA of 1,382 out of 1,750 targets. William Penn University finished with the highest overall score at 1,581 and were followed by Simpson (1,492) and Wartburg College (1,433). 
 
On Saturday, the Peacocks broke 445/500 targets in trap. Colton Heintz-Kuderer was the only competitor to record a score over 90 at 96/100. In sporting clays, UIU recorded a score of 317/500 targets. Heintz-Kuderer and Lucas Riberich led the team with identical scores of 67/100, followed by Connor Gittings with a score of 63/100.
 
On Sunday, UIU as a team recorded their best score in a single discipline, finishing in third place with a score of 463/500 in skeet. Each member who contributed to the team score broke 90 targets or more. Heintz-Kuderer once again led the way breaking 95/100 targets. He was followed by Riberich and Jayden Shaw, who each finished with a score of 93/100. Gittings (92/100) and Brady Carrigan (90/100) also contributed to the team score.
 
The Peacocks wrapped up the competition with a total of 166/250 super sporting clay targets. Riberich paced the team with a score of 36/50, followed by Gittings (35/50) and Heintz-Kuderer (34/50).
 
"This weekend, we had some great competition that gave our student-athletes an idea of what they need to work on" said Head Coach Reba Kingsley. "It is coming together as we continue working towards putting more broken targets on the score sheet. We have a short time to fine-tune things before leaving for nationals, but I am confident in our team's ability to reach their highest potential."
 
Up next, the UIU shotgun sports team will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada to compete in the National Collegiate Shooting Sports Athletic Association National Championship. The event is set to take place at Clark County Shooting Complex beginning on March 13 and will feature competition in six disciplines across six days.