SPARTA, ILLINOIS - This past weekend, several Grand View University shooting team members delivered standout performances, achieving personal bests in a competition featuring over 300 competitors from across the country in the Upper Midwest Conference Championships. 

Cass Ruzicka secured a strong 3rd place finish in the women's Classic All-Around (CAA) event, which combines scores from Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays. Her consistency across all disciplines solidified her spot on the podium.

In the same event, MaKenna Six dominated, winning 1st place in the women's CAA by breaking 274 out of 300 targets. Her precision and poise under pressure were key to her success, setting her apart from the competition.

On the men's side, Cole Haynes put on a spectacular display of marksmanship, compiling a remarkable score of 288 out of 300 to take 1st place in the men's CAA. Haynes' performance was one of the best of his collegiate career, with highlights including breaking 89 out of 100 targets in Sporting Clays and an impressive 99 out of 100 in Skeet.

However, the most thrilling moment came on the final day when Haynes shattered all 100 of his Trap targets, earning him a spot in a high-stakes shoot-off. Competing against four others, Haynes continued his hot streak by breaking an additional 67 consecutive targets before finally securing a 2nd place finish in the shoot-off. Watching him hit 167 targets without a single miss was a breathtaking moment for those in attendance, solidifying his reputation as one of the top shooters in the competition. His combined scores earned him the 1st place title in the men's CAA.

The Grand View team narrowly missed a top-three finish by just one target, reflecting the competitive nature of the event and the team's upward trajectory as they continue to improve with every competition.

Reflecting on the team's performance, coach Mundy expressed optimism for the future: "I couldn't be happier with how our team performed this weekend. We had three athletes reach the top of their categories, and the rest of the team is steadily climbing the ranks. As a team, we missed the top three by just one target, but we all know where we can pick up a few more points. We may be smaller than some of the squads we're competing against, but if everyone continues to do their part, we'll be in a strong position to hit our goals when it really counts."