by Jonny Gamet
BJUBruins.com
The Bruins shooting sports teams returned home after competing well at the Shooting Sports teams competed in the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) Nationals in Talladega, Alabama on Saturday. Both teams had performed well with several individuals placing among the top competitors with over 200 participants from around the country competing in the event.
This week, three Bruins players learned that their score was not just good enough, but that their team total tied for best in the Centerfire Open category. The team of John Ferguson, Tyler Moritsch, and Nathanael Seibert tied for 1st place in the category to win the national championship in Centerfire Open. The scoring system had a glitch which didn’t recognize the time and performance of the Bruins team. As a result, the team didn’t know they had won until scores were recalculated. The win marks the first national championship for the Bruins shooting sports program which began in 2016.
“We’re very proud of these men,” Head Coach Mike Wilkie said. “To come out ahead of more established programs is very exciting and motivating. We hope the Lord is pleased with our efforts and we look forward to our next match.”
The Bruins competed against notable programs such as Clemson University, Florida State University, Texas A&M, Michigan State, United States Military Academy at West Point and more. The Bruins competed in several events over the course of the tournament with several individuals earning honors as some of the best in the country.
“When Bob Jones University is on the leaderboard with notable and established programs, it has been a great competition. To be fortunate enough to come out ahead of some of those schools is a great honor,” Coach Wilkie said.
The Shooting Sports teams will wrap up their season on May 5 as the team competes in an Ohio State match. BJU athletics feature 13 varsity sports programs and are members of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) as a division II institution.
