Geneseo, Illinois– April 2023– The Hillsdale College Action Shooting Team, with sponsorship support from Springfield Armory®, earned its second national championship at the Scholastic Action Shooting Program’s College Nationals in Talladega, Alabama.
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The competition, which took place March 10th through 12th, was the team’s second national competition as a varsity team. The team earned first place in the Centerfire Division and second in the 1911 Division.
“I am proud of the team’s performance in Talladega. The unwavering dedication and tireless training in the months leading up to nationals truly paid off, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results,” said Adam Burlew, head coach of the team.
Beating out competition from teams including Texas A&M, West Point and Virginia Tech, the Hillsdale team competed in two divisions: Centerfire Pistol and 1911 Model. They earned first place in the Centerfire Division using Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 5.25” 9mm pistols. They earned second place in the nation in the 1911 Division shooting Springfield Armory Emissary 1911 pistols.
Individual shooters earned high honors as well. Senior Greg Clement took first place overall in both the Centerfire and 1911 Divisions, and Junior Zech Steiger placed second in the Centerfire Division for men. Sarah Wagoner won first place overall in the 1911 Division, and third in the Centerfire Division for women.
Springfield Armory has been a proud sponsor of the Hillsdale Action Shooting Team since 2019. It has provided XD-M, XD-M Elite and 1911 pistols; equipment (hats and range bags); and access to training with champion shooter Rob Leatham. The company has also now funded an academic scholarship for qualifying members of the shooting team.
Hillsdale College, located in Hillsdale, Michigan, has built a national reputation through its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. With an emphasis on a traditional, classical core curriculum, the college is ranked among the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the United States.
“Springfield Armory is extremely proud to be associated with Hillsdale College, and for having the opportunity to support the Varsity Pistol Team in these incredible achievements at the College Nationals,” says Springfield Armory Vice President of Marketing, Steve Kramer. “Congratulations from all of us here to the team on their performance at the competition.”
“The team shot well, and I am proud of what we accomplished,” said team member Greg Clement. “We’re grateful to Coach Burlew for his expertise and time, and to Springfield Armory for their continued support.”
“Springfield Armory has gone above and beyond to support the Hillsdale Action Shooting Team. Having the team train with Rob Leatham and Coach Burlew on the high-quality Springfield Armory platforms has aided the team in its great success,” said Gena Grant, Senior Development Officer at Hillsdale College.
To learn more information about Hillsdale College, please visit: www.hillsdale.edu.
To learn more about Springfield Armory, please visit: www.springfield-armory.com.
About Springfield Armory®
In 1794, the original Springfield Armory began manufacturing muskets for the defense of our young, free Republic. The Armory functioned as a firearms supplier for every major American conflict until 1968 when the government sadly closed its doors. In 1974, nearly two centuries after its inception, Springfield Armory Inc. in Geneseo, Ill. revived the iconic heritage of the Armory to carry on its legacy.
We strive to honor this responsibility as guardians of the original Springfield Armory legacy by manufacturing the highest quality firearms to enable responsible citizens to preserve their right to keep and bear arms in the defense of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
With an unmatched emphasis on craftsmanship, performance and exceptional customer service, our mission is to forge superior firearms and provide the tools necessary to defend individual freedoms and equality for those who embrace the rights and principles secured by our Founding Fathers. For more information, please visit us at: springfield-armory.com.
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