Lindenwood University Athletics

Lindenwood University Athletics

Men's Sports

Women's Sports

Other Sports

Other Categories

Ticket Ad Logo Ticket Ad Logo Photo Gallary Newsletter RSS Live Stats Hall of fame Lindenwood University ACUI Twitter FAQ Button

Shooting Program Continues Success During Fall Season
Oct. 21, 2008- For a relatively young team, the Lindenwood shooting team has accomplished a lot in its six years of existence.

In its first year 2002, the shooting team was the runner-up for the National Collegiate title. They've only been the bridesmaid once. Since then they've won the last five National Collegiate Championships. Winning is a practice Interim Head Coach Mike Elam tries to instill in every shooter.

"It's hard to make a championship team better," he said. "But that's what we're going to do."

The shooting team has been beneficial to bringing students to the university. Lindenwood is one of two teams that award scholarships to their shooting team, Texas A&M being the other.

"The [shooting] team gives a large diversity to a small university," Elam said. "We have students from all across the country and international students. This program added more diversity to an already diversified campus."

Other institutions have shooting clubs, but not scholarship based.

"There are other good teams that have very talented shooters," Assistant Coach Jon Shockley said. "Mizzou and Kansas have very competitive teams."

This year is a rebuilding year for the team. They recruited 25 freshmen, the most ever for the program.

Even for a rebuilding year the team has had its share of success. Talia Borg won a world championship in the American skeet 4-10 event. She was the only female shooter to hit all 100 targets.

"Champion of the world is as high as it goes," Elam said.

At the American Skeet U.S. Open, Senior Chris Cook took home top honors as the collegiate champ. Dan Stokes and Ali Chiang both qualified for the Junior Olympic Development Team. Jessica Forbes also earned a collegiate championship and was the top lady shooter of the event.

"We've had a big year so far," Shockley said. "Even for a rebuilding year."

In addition to winning championships, the shooting team also participates in training exercises and exhibitions. In August they taught youth and novice shooters how to improve. Recently in a Fellowship of Christian Athletes youth camp, they taught shooters how to engage targets.

The first few years the shooting team had to go out and recruit shooters, now they come to the team. "We have to turn people away," Elam said.

There's been plenty of interest in Lindenwood shooters. 2008 Olympian Sean McLelland was asked by the Discovery Channel to help make a documentary on shotgun mechanics. Travis Mears, sponsored by Beretta firearms, has done several exhibitions including one for the Washington Redskins.

"It's important to remember that shooting is an individual sport," Shockley said. "We take 50 shooters and make a team, that's hard to do."

Said Elam, "There's no doubt there's a lot of talent on this team and there's no reason we shouldn't continue to win."
Calendar Schedule Results
JunJuly 2010Aug
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
27282930123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
1234567
Thu, Jul. 29, 2010

There are no events scheduled.
View Composite Schedule
Athletes of the Week
Mike Emerick
Men's Volleyball
Mike Emerick was named the 2009-10 Lindenwood Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Emerick, a men's volleyball player, was named the MAMVIC West Conference Libero of the Year for the second straight season. He collected 442 digs for an average of 3.5 digs a game, and was named the National Libero of the Week four times. Emerick is a Finance major at Lindenwood.
Cassie Williams
Women's Basketball
Cassie Williams was named the 2009-10 Lindenwood Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Williams, a women's basketball player, averaged 9.1 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Lady Lions last season. The four-year letterwinner finished her career with over 700 points and 500 rebounds, and nearly 200 assists. Williams is an Exercise Science major at Lindenwood.
Locos3