By Emily R. Condon
While many students spent their spring breaks on the shores of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, or in the sun shining heat of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, one University of Maryland group spent their spring break down in San Antonio, Texas, at a national clay target shooting competition.
Fifteen members of the Division I UMD Clay Target Team competed at the 53rd Annual ACUI Collegiate Clay Target Championships from March 19 through March 26. For 14 members, this was their first time competing on the national level. The team plays in shotgun shooting sports where athletes are challenged to shoot a moving clay disc out of the air.
“The events we participated in were American Skeet, American Double Skeet, American Trap, American Double Trap, Sporting Clays and Super Sporting. Through all six events the team shot strong,” team captain and senior criminology and criminal justice major Samuel Obenland said.
Obenland explained that on a typical day, members would arrive at the shooting range earlier than 9 a.m. to test out their guns. At 11 a.m. they would go to the field where that day’s event was being hosted for about two hours. When that was over, the team relaxed for a few hours and then returned to shooting to practice for the next day’s events.
“Over the five days of competing, we shot one event a day except for Thursday, where we shot both American Trap and American Double trap. Overall the atmosphere was really cool meeting other college teams across the United States who were there participating in the same event,” Obenland said.
According to Bryce Akers, the team’s vice president, the team finished bronze in five out of the six events.
“As an exec member, it was amazing to see our teammates come together and work as a well-organized team. I was very proud of every single one of them and I feel that we all became closer friends while there,” Akers, a junior landscape architecture major, said. “Our entire team worked their hardest and competed against some of the top colleges and universities in the United States.”
Coach Anne Mauro, a UMD ‘85 alumni, founded the team in 2011 when a group of students came to her asking for her assistance. She is a USA Shooting, NRA Advanced Shotgun Coach Level 3. The team practices at four different ranges throughout the season, but mainly at Prince George’s County Trap and Skeet Center.
“The ACUI weather forecast for the week called for a ‘Dust Storm’ on their annual logoed shirts, and that is exactly what happened when an athlete’s shot hit a clay target,” Mauro said.
Matthew Weirich, a freshman electrical engineering major, and Maxwell Troutman, a freshman agricultural science and technology major, both commented on the teamwork and community that the team and competition in San Antonio built. The team spent time swimming and eating team meals together.
“Nationals was one of the most successful shoots for our team and really brought out the true nature of shooting and teamwork. Our team grew so much as shooters and as a family and really came together to make an enjoyable competition,” Troutman shared.
Jack Meyers, a sophomore agriculture and resource economics major, explained he was nervous to compete at a national level, but it allowed him to see many new teams.
“Once I fired a few rounds the nerves went away and I got in my rhythm. It was a great atmosphere with seeing people from different schools that I’d never heard of,” Meyers said.
For other shooters on the team, the competition in San Antonio marked personal records.
“My scores increased over 80% between first competing at the Upper East Coast Regional Competition shortly after I joined and finally competing in San Antonio,” Dalip Bhatti, a freshman history and economics major, said. “I set a number of personal records while at nationals and I hope to continue my journey over the next few years.”
David Kiesnowski, a sophomore Arabic major, explained the valuable experience he learned from his year on the team and at nationals, which taught him to push through adversity.
“Shooting may not be the most physically demanding sport, but it definitely is one of the most mentally challenging. It is very easy to become frustrated in this sport especially after missing a target,” Kiesnowski said.
Overall, the team had a successful week at collegiate nationals representing the Terps.
“I am so proud of the entire team with their dedication and in how they represented themselves and the University of Maryland. GO TERPS!” Mauro said.
Featured image: The UMD Clay Target Team poses at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas. The team competed in the 53rd Annual ACUI Collegiate Clay Target Championships from March 19 through March 26. Photo courtesy of Anne Mauro.