‘It’s All About Furthering The Shooting Sports’: Clemson’s Ryan Flowers On Steel Challenge & SASP

by
posted on February 27, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
1-flowers_clemson.jpg

At 22 years old, Ryan Flowers is the only 11-division Steel Challenge Grand Master in history and also the sport’s reigning Single-Stack World Champion. Flowers balances his pursuit of the “Grand Master Sweep” with the demands of being at the helm of Clemson University’s Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) team.

Participation in USPSA and Steel Challenge made him a competitive shooter. Recognizing the need for a team-based shooting experience for Clemson students, Flowers and like-minded classmates took it upon themselves to start a SASP team for their university.

Ryan Flowers, Clemson University
Ryan Flowers got his first glimpse of action shooting watching the Outdoor Channel.


“There wasn’t a shooting team, so we made one,” said Flowers. “Andrew Jezewski contacted me once the team was established and at first, I wore a lot of hats—founding member, president, recruitment manager, training scheduler—you name it.”

Making himself known as an individual in Steel Challenge, the team-based atmosphere that comes with SASP competition came easily to Flowers.

“The team scoring shows how well you can get four individuals shooting together comprehensively,” said Flowers. “It also shows how well you work together as a team and how you’ve brought up everyone’s skills to a certain level when it comes time for the match. It’s not just your performance that matters anymore. You’ve got three teammates that are relying on you to perform and vice-versa.”

Ryan Flowers, Clemson SASP and Steel Challenge GM
When not focused on SASP competitions with the Clemson team, Flowers is on a quest for the Steel Challenge GM Sweep—becoming a Grand Master in every division—which has never been done before.


The team atmosphere also exhibits how the competitive shooting community will form a tight-knit group dedicated to supporting each other—especially beginners.

“Another great thing about the team is the ability to take people who otherwise would not be able to financially get into the sport and even people who would normally be intimidated about shooting matches, we can help them and encourage them when they are first starting out,” said Flowers. He added, “The majority of our members had never competed in a match before or even really shot a firearm before. It’s all about furthering the shooting sports.”

Flowers also notes that skills gained from SASP competition have translated well to other action-shooting sports, like Steel Challenge.

Next up for Flowers and the Clemson University SASP team is the 2020 SASP Collegiate Nationals, which will begin Friday, March 13 at the CMP Marksmanship Park in Talladega, AL. Last year at the match, the Clemson action-shooting squad earned third-place honors in PCC and also runner-up in the 1911 division. Flowers himself secured titles in four divisions—Centerfire Pistol, 1911, PCC and Iron Sight Rifle.

Learn more about this year’s SASP Collegiate Nationals here.


See more: Diabetes Didn’t Stop This Junior Trapshooter From Competing

Latest

Mullers ARC July2025 1
Mullers ARC July2025 1

NRA Announces Dianna & Ryan Muller As Brand Ambassadors For America’s Rifle Challenge

NRA announces Dianna & Ryan Muller as brand ambassadors for America’s Rifle Challenge program, promoting AR-15 marksmanship, safety and training.

Eley’s New Trial Packs Let Competition Shooters Find Their Perfect Rimfire Match Ammo

Eley launches trial ammo packs to help shooters test and match precision .22 LR rounds to their firearms.

Ava Downs Captures Junior Olympic Trap Title On Home Turf

Hillsdale’s Ava Downs takes gold in women’s trap at the 2025 USA Shooting Junior Olympic Championships hosted at the Halter Center.

Brandon Powell Claims 8th Georgia State Sporting Clays Title

Brandon Powell wins his eighth Georgia State Sporting Clays Championship, continuing his dominance with multiple top finishes at the 2025 tournament.

Vincent Hancock Claims 30th ISSF Medal As Team USA Dominates 2025 Lonato World Cup

Team USA shines at 2025 ISSF Lonato World Cup with golds from Vincent Hancock and Sam Simonton, plus silver for Dania Vizzi.

Jon Shue Clinches Third Straight NRA National Precision Pistol Championship Title

Shue continues his dominant streak in bullseye pistol shooting after 2025 NRA National Precision Pistol Championship victory.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.