The Southwestern sports shooting team had its first shoot of the fall 2017 semester on Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Tri-State Gun Club in Montrose. Eight teams competed in the shoot, hosted by Southeastern Community College. 

According to Marc Roberg, Spartan head sports shooting coach, the competition was fierce. Roberg said it wasn't the start he and his team were hoping for, with the team finishing seventh, with a 446 out of a possible 500.  

Team scores were based on the top five shooting scores. Hunter Albers, freshman from Indianola, led the way with a 94.  Tom Steinbach, freshman from Creston, had a 93.  Blake Binns, freshman from Winterset, had an 87.  Dakota Burgmaier, freshman from Creston, and Kessler Tomas, freshman from Creston, both scored 86.

"I think it was just first meet jitters," explained Roberg, "as we shot 20 birds better than that at practice on the previous Thursday, including a 98 by Blake,"

Roberg said the Spartans next outing is Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Grand View University in Des Moines.