Hillsdale Chargers Win Again

By Scott Wagner

Posted in
#Guns

I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to cover the Hillsdale College Collegiate Action Pistol team grow as a competitive shooting team. More importantly, over the last two years, I have been privileged to watch the John A. Halter Shooting Center grow as a premier facility for even longer than that.

The Hillsdale Chargers pistol team women shooters have helped establish the program as a driving force in collegiate USPSA competition. Image: Gabe Beck

During last year’s competition, which the Hillsdale Team won for the second year in a row, the Roger Ailes Action Pistol Shooting Center — an outdoor facility with six pistol bays and a 100-yard rifle range — was officially dedicated as gift by the family of the late Roger Ailes.

With the victory of the Hillsdale Team last year, along with the teams they had attracted with the first match held on their site, I knew that this program was going to do nothing but grow. My prediction turned out to be accurate! While the 2024 Match was a total success, the 2025 Match clearly demonstrates how far Hillsdale can go in the future as a national competition site.

The 2025 Championships

The participant turnout increased this year with more schools showing up that had not been able to participate in 2024. The competitor participation level last year was actually quite good — considering that last year’s match occurred during the landfall of Hurricane Helene on September 26, 2024.

A Hillsdale Chargers shooting team member actively competes during a stage at the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Action Pistol Championships held at their home range facility. The Hillsdale College competitive shooter engages multiple targets with their handgun while moving through the course of fire at the John A. Halter Shooting Center. This Hillsdale action pistol team competitor demonstrates proper gun handling and shooting technique during one of the Springfield Armory sponsored stages. The Hillsdale marksmanship athlete wears eye and ear protection while executing their run through the practical shooting course layout. Hillsdale College pistol team members like this shooter competed in either Limited or Limited Optics divisions using platforms like the 1911 DS Prodigy. The Hillsdale Chargers competitive shooting athlete represents a program that finished second in both team divisions against universities including Texas A&M and Naval Academy. This Hillsdale shooter participates in the type of action pistol stage that requires speed, accuracy, and tactical movement skills valued in USPSA collegiate competition. The Hillsdale team competitor's performance contributes to overall team scores that have established their Michigan college shooting program as a premier destination for university-level practical shooting sports championships. — One of the Hillsdale College action pistol team shooters moves through a course of fire at the Roger Ailes shooting facility. Image: Owen Wagner

This year there were no such problems, and the weather conditions were beautiful. Last year, non-collegiate shooters were allowed to participate alongside the collegiate competitors in their match. This year, a separate match had been set up for civilian competitors on the Friday morning before the collegiate match.

This was a good move on the part of Hillsdale Shooting Coach Adam Burlew and Training and Site Coordinator Zechariah Steiger, as the change unified the collegiate spirit of the event and made the match totally their own.

Several Hillsdale Chargers shooting team members stand together during a break in competition at the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Action Pistol Championships held at their Michigan home range. The Hillsdale College competitive shooting athletes relax between stages while waiting for their next runs at the John A. Halter Shooting Center facility. These Hillsdale action pistol team competitors display the team unity and supportive atmosphere that characterizes their marksmanship program. The Hillsdale Chargers pistol shooters include both male and female athletes who competed in Limited and Limited Optics divisions against 13 university teams. Hillsdale College shooting team members like John Beecher, Joseph Grohs, Jonah Kirstein, Brendan Burnham, Kayla Mullin, Clara Bozzay, and Jianna Coppola contributed to second place team finishes. The Hillsdale competitive shooters demonstrate the sportsmanship praised throughout the match where competitors help each other tape targets and encourage newer shooters. These Hillsdale action pistol athletes represent a program that has won back-to-back championships and continues attracting more collegiate teams to compete at the Roger Ailes shooting facility. The Hillsdale marksmanship team members enjoy the beautiful weather conditions that made the 2025 match a success unlike the previous year's competition during Hurricane Helene. — The Hillsdale Chargers pistol athletes share the sportsmanship and professionalism that has become a hallmark of collegiate USPSA competition. Image: Gabe Beck

In 2024, there were eight teams that participated in the match, which was impressive since it was the first one held at Hillsdale. This year there were 13 teams that competed, with six — including the Hillsdale Team — returning from last year to compete again, with some additional big names joining them. The teams that competed were as follows:

Clemson University*
Greenville University Marksmanship Team
Hillsdale College*
LeTourneau University
Michigan Tech University*
Michigan State University*
Oklahoma State University
Pasadena City College*
Robert Morris University
Texas A&M CMU
United States Naval Academy*
Virginia Tech CMU
Western Michigan University

(*) Denotes a team returning from 2024.

This year’s Match Sponsors were:

Springfield Armory
Magpul
Hunters HD Gold
XS Sights
Cheely Custom Gunworks

Preparing for the Match

I arrived on around 1pm on Friday the 19^th with my 11-year-old son Owen, who was serving as my “backup photographer”. He has been taking pictures for me for quite a while now and doing a fine job of it. We arrived on Friday the 19^th, the day before the collegiate match itself was to start.

Springfield Armory displays and equipment are visible at the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Action Pistol Championships hosted by the Hillsdale Chargers shooting team at the John A. Halter Shooting Center. The firearms manufacturer served as primary match sponsor alongside Magpul, Hunters HD Gold, XS Sights, and Cheely Custom Gunworks for the Hillsdale College competitive shooting event. Springfield Armory sponsored multiple stages throughout the Hillsdale action pistol competition where 13 university teams competed at the Michigan range facility. The company provided critical support to competitors including the Naval Academy team by supplying Springfield Armory Echelon 4.5F 9mm pistols when rule changes prohibited their issued firearms. Hillsdale Chargers shooting team members and competitors from other universities benefited from Springfield Armory's involvement in the collegiate USPSA championship match. The firearms manufacturer's partnership with the Hillsdale College marksmanship program helps establish this Michigan facility as a premier destination for university-level practical shooting sports. Springfield Armory's sponsorship of the Hillsdale competitive shooting event demonstrates industry commitment to developing young shooters and supporting collegiate action pistol competition. The company's presence at the Hillsdale pistol team match included stage sponsorship and equipment support that contributed to the successful 2025 championship. — Springfield Armory served as primary sponsor for the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Championships. Image: Gabe Beck

When we arrived on the range, we noted that there was a group of uniformed competitors shooting their handguns at the far end of the 100-yard range. We grabbed our eye and ear protection and walked down to check out this group of shooters. As it turned out, it was the U.S. Naval Academy Team, many of which I had met last year. What they were doing there turned out to be the most amazing part of the two Hillsdale Competitions I have covered thus far.

As we walked up to the canopy, I saw that the U.S. Naval Academy Team had set up a row of cardboard competition targets across the range backstop, and the shooters had other personnel coaching them in handling their pistols. The shooters appeared to be firing black polymer-framed 9mm pistols.

A toddler interacts with members of the Hillsdale Chargers shooting team during breaks at the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Action Pistol Championships held at the John A. Halter Shooting Center. The young child enjoys spending time with Hillsdale College competitive shooting athletes who demonstrate the welcoming and family-friendly nature of collegiate action pistol events. Hillsdale marksmanship team members engage with the toddler while their families and supporters observe the competition at the Roger Ailes Action Pistol Shooting Center in Michigan. The Hillsdale Chargers pistol competitors show that university shooting sports attract multigenerational support including very young fans who attend with parents or supervising adults. Hillsdale College action pistol team athletes take time between stages to interact with young spectators which helps introduce children to competitive shooting sports early. The toddler represents the future of collegiate USPSA competition as Hillsdale shooting program members encourage younger people to learn about marksmanship and practical shooting. Hillsdale Chargers competitive shooters demonstrate the approachable nature of team members who are willing to talk with spectators of all ages at their home facility matches. The young fan's presence at the Hillsdale College shooting team competition shows how the program welcomes families and creates an environment where children can safely observe university-level action pistol sports. — Hillsdale competitive shooting team athletes interact with a young fan at their home range match. The Hillsdale Chargers pistol team creates a family-friendly atmosphere. Image: Gabe Beck

I checked with the head coach and asked what was going on. He told me that new match rule changes had prohibited the use of their issued pistols. So, the ones they had in their hands were Springfield Armory Echelon 4.5F 9mm pistols. They also had holsters and magazine pouches.

When I talked to the team members, I found that they were very grateful for the assistance. Without it, the Naval Academy Team would have missed the chance to compete at Hillsdale this year. Check out the Naval Academy’s final team score. I think you too will be amazed.

Match Opening

Registration opened for the Match at 8am on Saturday morning with the Match set to begin at 9am. I was surprised at the amount of traffic that was coming in. The competitors were arriving with their families and friends to observe and support them. There was a lot of excitement in the air.

A woman from the Hillsdale Chargers shooting team fires her pistol at targets during a competitive stage run at the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Action Pistol Championships in Michigan. The Hillsdale College competitive shooting athlete moves through the course while engaging cardboard targets set up across the shooting bay at the Roger Ailes Action Pistol Shooting Center. This Hillsdale action pistol team woman demonstrates the shooting fundamentals and stage strategy that helped women competitors dominate the Limited division at their home facility. The Hillsdale marksmanship woman shooter wears safety equipment including eye and ear protection while competing in the timed practical shooting match against teams from Texas A&M, Naval Academy, and Virginia Tech. Hillsdale Chargers pistol team women like this competitor contributed to second place team finishes with standout individual performances including Kayla Mullin's first place Limited HOA score. The Hillsdale College shooting woman engages multiple targets with accuracy and speed that characterizes university-level USPSA action pistol competition where women athletes compete equally alongside male shooters. This Hillsdale competitive shooting athlete represents a program where women shooters Clara Bozzay, Jianna Coppola, Kayla Mullin, and Cristina Lewis have established themselves as top competitors in collegiate marksmanship. The Hillsdale woman competitor's stage run at the John A. Halter Shooting Center demonstrates the skill level that makes their program a premier destination for collegiate action pistol sports. — This Hillsdale Chargers pistol competitor showcases the speed and accuracy required to compete against 13 universities at their home facility. Image: Owen Wagner

After everyone had signed in, all competitors were gathered in a circle while the range rules were covered. It was a beautiful morning, and I noticed that the large American flag that was flying from a large pole atop the Michigan sand mound had the sun rising behind it. It was a breathtaking sight. We then stood for the National Anthem, which was played over loudspeakers. It was a great way to start things off.

A competitor runs between shooting positions during a timed stage at the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Action Pistol Championships hosted by the Hillsdale Chargers shooting team at the John A. Halter Shooting Center in Michigan. The university action pistol athlete demonstrates the dynamic movement and speed required to navigate courses of fire at the Roger Ailes Action Pistol Shooting Center. Collegiate shooter moves quickly between target arrays while maintaining gun safety and control during their stage run at the Hillsdale College championship match. The university competitor represents the athletic demands of USPSA action pistol competition where shooters must combine marksmanship accuracy with physical agility at the Hillsdale Chargers facility. Action pistol athlete transitions between firing positions on one of the Springfield Armory sponsored stages that test tactical movement skills alongside shooting fundamentals. University shooting competitor demonstrates the fast-paced nature of practical shooting sports where stage times significantly impact overall scores at the Hillsdale competitive shooting event. The collegiate athlete represents shooters from 13 university teams including Texas A&M, Naval Academy, Virginia Tech who navigated similar challenging courses requiring both speed and precision. This university competitor's movement at the Hillsdale College championship illustrates why USPSA collegiate action pistol competition demands more than just static target shooting but complete tactical firearms proficiency. — A competitor runs between shooting positions during a timed stage. Image: Owen Wagner

In the two years I’ve spent observing Hillsdale College’s involvement in the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) competitions, I have seen NOTHING but the finest sportsmanship and professionalism between competitors regardless of who they were; male or female; or what school or region they came from.

The competitors all come out together to tape up targets on stages that have been fired, compliment each other on their performances, or encourage new shooters and explain how to do better on the next stage. I saw one young man who was new to the competition who was visibly upset about his performance — although he really shouldn’t have been because it was his very first competition. He was talking with another competitor who had finished his run before the new shooter had run his. He coached and told him that it would all come with time, and that he a good run for starting off.

I am sure the “big brother” type coaching had a positive impact on the younger students next run, which unfortunately I did not get to see. It was prime example of the spirit of these matches. Nothing encourages new shooters better than help like that.

During the Match

One of the things I noticed about the Hillsdale Competitors when we stopped by to observe Stage 2, which was sponsored primarily — like the other stages — by Springfield Armory, was that the Hillsdale team was running the 1911 DS Prodigy pistol. As a long-time 1911 fan, that did my heart good.

A collegiate shooting competitor actively engages targets during a timed stage at the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Action Pistol Championships hosted by the Hillsdale Chargers shooting team at the John A. Halter Shooting Center. The university action pistol athlete fires their handgun while moving through the course of fire at the Michigan range facility that attracted 13 competing teams. This competitive shooter demonstrates proper gun handling and marksmanship fundamentals during their stage run at the Hillsdale College championship match held at the Roger Ailes Action Pistol Shooting Center. The collegiate pistol competitor wears required safety equipment including eye protection and hearing protection while navigating one of the Springfield Armory sponsored stages. University shooting athletes like this competitor participated in either Limited or Limited Optics divisions at the Hillsdale competitive shooting event where teams from Texas A&M, Naval Academy, and Virginia Tech competed. The action pistol shooter's stage performance contributes to team scores in a match that has grown from eight teams in 2024 to 13 teams at the 2025 Hillsdale Chargers championship. This collegiate competitor represents the level of marksmanship skill displayed throughout the match where athletes demonstrated finest sportsmanship and professionalism regardless of school affiliation. The university shooter competes at a Hillsdale College facility that has established itself as a premier destination for USPSA collegiate action pistol championships. — Competitors from schools including Texas A&M, Naval Academy, Virginia Tech, and Michigan State battled for team and individual honors at the event. Image: Gabe Beck

One of the other favorite teams that were back this year in force was from Michigan Tech. Instead of the three team members that they had last year, this year Michigan Tech had six.

Western Michigan University had its first shooter there. As it turned out, my brother is a professor at WMU who came to see the match for the first time. One WMU competitor was one of his former students. Small world.

A competitive shooter fires their pistol at targets during a stage at the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Action Pistol Championships hosted by the Hillsdale Chargers shooting team at the John A. Halter Shooting Center in Michigan. The action pistol competitor demonstrates proper shooting stance and gun handling fundamentals while engaging targets during their timed run at the Hillsdale College championship match. This shooter wears required eye and ear protection while firing through one of the courses at the Roger Ailes Action Pistol Shooting Center that features six pistol bays and a 100-yard rifle range. The competitive athlete represents one of the many shooters from 13 university teams including Texas A&M, Naval Academy, Virginia Tech, Michigan State, and Oklahoma State competing at the Hillsdale Chargers facility. Pistol competitors like this shooter participated in either Limited or Limited Optics divisions using various firearms platforms at the Hillsdale competitive shooting event sponsored by Springfield Armory and other industry partners. The action shooter's performance during this stage contributes to individual and team scores in a match that grew from eight teams in 2024 to 13 teams at the 2025 Hillsdale College championship. This competitive pistol athlete demonstrates the marksmanship abilities developed through collegiate shooting programs that gather at the Hillsdale Chargers facility for USPSA action pistol competition. The shooter competes at a Hillsdale College range that has established itself as a driving force in university-level practical shooting sports championships. — Action pistol competitor engages targets during a stage run at the Hillsdale College championship. Image: Gabe Beck

There was one solo competitor at the match from LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. He stood out due his professional almost “business casual” manner of dress, and he was more than a fair hand with his handgun.

In the End…

The Hillsdale Team needs to be recognized as a driving force in the USPSA competition world as they now have a truly premier facility to hold it in. Everyone I talked with intends to make it back next year, and I sure that there will be more teams arriving as well.

The members of the Hillsdale Action Pistol Team for 2025 are:

John Beecher
Clara Bozzay
Brenda Burnham
Jianna Cuppola
Joseph Grohs
Jonah Kirstein
Cristina Lewis
Kayla Mullin

Final Match Scores

Limited Optics Team Scores

1^st Texas A&M — 3,898.1421 team points

Thomas Nunnally
Charles Roach
Parker Pugno
Jack Fishman

2^nd Hillsdale — 3,840.8423 team points

John Beecher
Joseph Grohs
Jonah Kirstein
Brendan Burnham

3^rd Virginia Tech — 3,742.9829 team points

Tyler Wade
Ryan Eklund
AJ VanDyke
Braden Aaby

Limited Team Scores

1^st United States Naval Academy — 2,662.2153 team points

Sam Reece
Michael Fulton
Noah Mayer
Jack Newcomb

2^nd Hillsdale — 2,513.4852 team points

Kayla Mullin
Clara Bozzay
Jianna Coppola
Joseph Beecher

3^rd Michigan State University — 1,487.6128 team points

Kyle Barthel
Drew Johnson
Ian Schmidt
Ethan Meyer

Individual HOA Scores: (Limited Optics)

1^st Sebastian Alora (Pasadena City College) — 1134.8192 points

2^nd Nunnally, no first name given (Texas A&M) — 1097.7140 points

3^rd Tyler Wade (Virginia Tech) — 1084.2036 points

Individual HOA Scores: (Limited)

1^st Kayla Mullin (Hillsdale) — 1075.0805 points

2^nd Fred Siimes (LeTourneau University) — 1049.6873 points

3^rd Sam Reece (United States Naval Academy) — 1048 .7878 points

Wrap Up

There are so many good stories one can pick up from watching this match and talking to competitors. One of these is that of Sebastian Alora from Pasadena, California. He won the first place for High Overall (Limited Optics Division) for the second year in a row. He brought his father out with him who serves quite ably as his coach, as one can see by the score.

Members of the Hillsdale Chargers shooting team stand together with United States Naval Academy competitors at the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Action Pistol Championships held at the John A. Halter Shooting Center in Michigan. The Hillsdale College competitive shooting athletes and Naval Academy midshipmen represent two programs that both finished second in their respective team divisions at the Roger Ailes Action Pistol Shooting Center. Hillsdale action pistol team shooters and Naval Academy competitors demonstrate the camaraderie and sportsmanship that characterized the match where 13 university teams competed. The Hillsdale Chargers pistol program athletes joined with midshipmen who overcame significant challenges after match rule changes prohibited their issued pistols requiring Springfield Armory to provide Echelon 4.5F 9mm handguns. Hillsdale College shooting team members and Naval Academy shooters including Sam Reece, Michael Fulton, Noah Mayer, and Jack Newcomb who scored 2,662.2153 team points to win Limited division honors. The Hillsdale competitive shooting athletes and uniformed Naval Academy team members represent programs that exemplify finest sportsmanship regardless of school affiliation in collegiate USPSA competition. Hillsdale Chargers action pistol shooters and Naval Academy competitors both benefited from the premier facility and match organization provided by coaches Adam Burlew and Zechariah Steiger. The gathering of Hillsdale marksmanship team athletes with Naval Academy midshipmen illustrates the collegiate spirit and mutual respect among university shooting programs competing at this Michigan championship. — Members of the Hillsdale Chargers shooting team gather with United States Naval Academy competitors at the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Championships. Image: Gabe Beck

I was told that Hillsdale would like more spectators to come next year to watch. You can bring a person as young as 11 or 12 with a supervising adult. It might be good way to introduce them to this sport as the competitors seem to be more than willing to talk to younger people.

Competitors smile and enjoy themselves during the 2025 USPSA Collegiate Action Pistol Championships hosted by the Hillsdale Chargers shooting team at the John A. Halter Shooting Center in Michigan. The university action pistol athletes demonstrate that collegiate shooting competition combines serious marksmanship with fun and engaging social atmosphere at the Roger Ailes facility. Collegiate shooters from 13 university teams including Texas A&M, Naval Academy, Virginia Tech, and Michigan State show the enjoyable nature of competing at Hillsdale College championship matches. The university competitors represent athletes who appreciate the welcoming environment created by Hillsdale Chargers shooting program coaches Adam Burlew and Zechariah Steiger during the match. Action pistol shooters like these athletes experience both competitive challenge and enjoyable camaraderie at the Hillsdale competitive shooting facility where beautiful weather conditions enhanced the positive atmosphere. University marksmanship competitors demonstrate why teams intend to return next year to the Hillsdale College championship where fun and professionalism coexist throughout the event. The collegiate athletes show that USPSA action pistol competition at the Hillsdale Chargers facility provides engaging experiences beyond just stage runs and scores. These university shooting competitors represent the type of positive environment that attracts families and supporters who observe the fun alongside competitive excellence at Hillsdale College matches making it ideal for introducing younger people to shooting sports. — University shooting athletes have fun between stages at the Hillsdale College championship match. Image: Gabe Beck

If you live anywhere near Hillsdale, Michigan, try and come out and see the competition, and check out the entire range facility. You will be nothing short of amazed — as I was.

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