By Marissa VanWingen

Dale Stockdale, the Ellsworth Community College Sports Shooting head coach, recently competed in the Southwestern Grand National Trap Shooting Event.

The seven day competition was held in Wichita, Kan. Stockdale left with 10 of the available 19 trophies. He nearly swept all of the championships in his veteran age category, but he was one target short in the handicap event.

Stockdale won the high overall, and hit 1152 out of 1200 targets. He also won the high all around and hit 390 out of 400 birds.

He won the doubles championship and then in the singles championship there was a three-way tie with 198 and went to a shoot off. Stockdale had a perfect 50 for the win.
"There were five trophies I won in the preliminary events and I got four out of five championships that were available," Stockdale said. "There was a total of 19 that I could win, and I got 10 of them."

The Iowa Community College Athletic Conference is currently in season and the Panthers have six shooters. The conference ends on Oct. 17.

For Stockdale, the unique part of the ECC shooting team is there are students that have never tried the sport before and can find success at the collegiate level.
"Usually at the collegiate level, if you didn't play in high school, you aren't going to get to do it," said Stockdale. "It's a game you can start at any time."

For more on ECC Athletics, https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.timescitizen.com%2fsports%2fecc%2f&c=E,1,AO-RAiquzEI0xXs6HTV1ZMI6YrvTKG5QPDfz8r94lPlbmAH3nwjznaQWn1mZtlGYTrTScJRdjt4vsJ6oZsWhSNxbKSU8ATfT5d5KH6TFRObe6Bqac5rhKfg,&typo=1