Warriors Claim Conference Title

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – Over the weekend, Midland University won the Prairie Circuit Conference Championship at the Lincoln County Wildlife Gun Club. The Warriors took the title, in the six-team field, with an HOA team score of 2406. Fort Hays State University was second at 2403, while Concordia University was third at 2331.

"This was undoubtedly our biggest test of the year," said head coach Jake McThenia. "The Prairie Classic Conference Championship is and always has been a heavyweight match-up in the Midwest. The last time we won the conference title was in 2016. Ever since I took over [the program], that was one of my goals and we did just that. We have been runner-up several times in the past to [Fort] Hays, and to beat them by three after being down six all weekend was a true storybook ending. The seniors really enjoyed this win after being in the runner-up position for a long time. Everyone did their job and I am extremely proud of them."

In the HOA individual competition, Midland's Grayson Stuart finished second with a score of 478 while Hastings College's Tanner Dager was the overall champion at 481. Atley Painter took fourth at 476 and Audric Scheidel was fifth with a score of 475. Mason Andelin secured a top-ten finish, taking seventh at 474. In the female competition, Morgan Siebert was second at 458 and Amy Cawley was third at 455. In the freshman competition, Gil Palmer was second at 462.

"I really am proud of the seven who made an all-conference team. Whether it was the four boys [Grayson, Mason, Audric, Atley open team], the two girls [Morgan am Amy], or Gil, they all earned that title. I give credit to Morgan, she really has developed over the last four years as a shooter and she proved that this weekend. Gil also really stepped up as a freshman with a very decorated trap background. He had great scores across the board. One more shout-out to Amy Cawley. She is the first person in program history to make a conference team all four years, that is really special and I am extremely proud of her."

In the respective disciplines, Midland finished second in American Skeet at 492. Fort Hays was first at 498. Audric Scheidel was the top Warrior, finishing eighth, at 99. Morgan Siebert was the lady's runner-up at 98.

In Doubles Skeet, Midland shot 490, bowing to Fort Hays in a shoot-off.  Atley Painter was first at 99. Mason Andelin was third with a 99. Grayson Stuart was seventh at 98.

In Sporting Clays, Midland was second at 452. Fort Hays was first at 459. Devein Huguenot took fourth with a 92. Michael Martinez was fifth at 92. Brayden Bliss was eighth at 90. Mason Andelin was tenth at 89. Amy Cawley was the lady's runner-up at 85.

Midland took first in American Trap, scoring a 499. Fort Hays was second at 492. Atley Painter took first at 100. Alex Voyles was second, also at 100. Audric Scheidel and Grayson Stuart also shot 100s. Gil Palmer was eighth with a 99. 

Midland also won the Doubles Trap competition with a 473. Fort Hays was second at 464. Audric Scheidel, Cole Kennedy, and Grayson Stuart finished third, fourth, and fifth with 95's. Mason Andelin and Atley Painter finished ninth and tenth, with 94's.

Midland will split up this coming weekend as it sends shooters to a pair of competitions. The Warriors will be at the Bronco Invite in Hastings, and the Viktors Clay Clash in Waukee, Iowa. Competition for both events on Saturday, October 5, and Sunday, October 6.