The BJU Shooting Team competed in the Scholastic Pistol Program Collegiate Nation Championships, its first intercollegiate competition, this past Saturday at the Civilian Marksmanship Program in Talladega, Alabama.

Of the 25 schools represented, BJU was the only team from the NCCAA.

The competition included accuracy and speed in moving through the four stages of the competition.

Matt Bright, a junior business admin major placed fourth in the rifle category.

The Shooting Team was announced in September 2015 and placed under the direction of Dr. Mike Wilkie of the criminal justice department.

Over 85 people attended the meeting, and many others in full support of the new program showed interest as well.

In the first semester, the shooting sports club went to a local shooting range on two occasions.

The first outing consisted of general shooting, while some participants completed the South Carolina concealed carry permit course.

The Shooting Team held a donation-based fundraiser on campus, raising about $2,300.

Wilkie and another instructor conducted a concealed weapons course for anyone who wanted to participate.

The donations completely covered the trip to the SAPP.

Since the program has been announced, four prospective students have met with Coach Wilkie to discuss the program.

Like all of the athletic programs on campus, the Shooting Team will be another avenue to glorify God and further the Gospel through the careful honing of athletic ability.

The team hopes to minister to other teams in the program.

“From my perspective, the neatest things have been to observe our athletes interact with athletes from these other schools in friendly, respectful competition,” Coach Wilkie said.

“This was our first experience as a team in this kind of competition, so it was very much a learning experience. I’m pretty excited, and we will see what God does with it.”

The Bruins will continue to prepare for their fall season of competition.