Hillsdale Action Shooting: The Making of a Powerhouse
Written by Doug Goodnough
Gregory Clement, ’23, didn’t know if Action Shooting would survive another year at Hillsdale College.
When he first joined, it was just a club and “barely competed” at any matches. However, thanks to a generous donation, Action Shooting soon evolved into a fully funded team with a full-time coach.
Less than two years later, the Chargers have the makings of a powerhouse. In March, Hillsdale captured a national championship at the Scholastic Action Shooting Program’s Collegiate Nationals, hosted in Talladega, Alabama. The Chargers claimed first place in the Centerfire division and took second in the 1911 division.
Clement had individual first places in both the Centerfire competition and the 1911 Division at nationals. The graduating senior said he is proud to be part of a program that is on the rise.
“Nationals was a high-energy environment that presented a great opportunity to compete against other colleges,” he said. “I am pleased with my performance, as I shot a consistent match and didn’t give much up. The team as a whole shot better than it ever has, and I am very proud to have been a part of it.”
He said Action Shooting has been described as “a mix of golf and drag racing.” Clement said success means having “a consistent mastery of the fundamentals and being able to make precision shots. But you also have to do it faster than everyone else.”
Although he said he loves shooting, the relationships he has built in the program are the most memorable.
“The team environment is analogous to having a lot of brothers out on the range,” Clement said. “We are all very competitive and gunning for those top spots on the A team, but we are all great friends and very supportive of each other.
“Adam Burlew, the pistol team coach, taught me the value of hard work and hands-on skills. My favorite moments on campus revolve around the pistol team and our time together.”
After graduating in May, the Missouri native will begin his career as a finance data analyst, and said his Hillsdale education prepared him well for life after graduation.
“Thankfully, my degree from Hillsdale has presented me with the ability to be a well-rounded person and have lots of fallback opportunities,” said Clement, who also plans on pursuing a professional shooting career. “My Hillsdale experience, despite workload and commitments, was overwhelmingly positive.”
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in May 2023