Warriors Take Runner-Up in Inaugural Conference Championship

LENEXA, Kan. – The inaugural Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) Shotgun Sports Championship took place over the weekend at Powder Creek Shooting Park, bringing together seven programs from across the conference for the first championship in the sport.

Student-athletes competed across three disciplines, with the combined scores determining the High Overall Team Champion and crowning the first conference champion in Heart shotgun sports history.

Seven institutions competed in the inaugural championship: Grand View University, Hastings College, McPherson College, Midland University, Missouri Valley College, William Penn University, and William Woods University.

Teams competed in trap, skeet, and sporting clays, with individual and team performances contributing to the overall standings. Individual honors were also awarded in each discipline, along with season awards recognizing top athletes and coaches from across the conference.

William Penn claimed the title of the first-ever HAAC Shotgun Sports Team Champion with 1,416 points, while Midland finished as the runner-up with 1,389 points.

Midland also collected several conference honors during the championship weekend. Sarah Sjoberg was named the HAAC Female Shooter of the Year and also captured the women's sporting clays title with a score of 90. Alexandra Klocek added a championship for the Warriors in women's trap, winning a shoot-off after posting 95 points. Freshman Whitney Wiseman earned recognition as the conference's Female Freshman of the Year.

Midland head coach Jake McThenia talked about the weekend.

"Obviously, the format was not like what we're used to competing in," McThenia said. "Having to send only seven to compete in each discipline is not ideal, especially since we compete with 20 at most other events. Nonetheless, they had to shoot their games to the best of their ability, and we came up short.

"I give major props to Alex for being the women's trap champion and Sarah for winning the women's sporting clays title, along with Female Athlete of the Year. Whitney Wiseman also earned Freshman Women's Shooter of the Year."

Midland will now prepare for the ACUI/SCTP National Championship, scheduled for March 15-21 at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas.