Team SIG Dominates USPSA Optics Nationals

by
posted on November 2, 2018
** 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. **
2018-carry-optics-nationals1.jpg
At the 2018 United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Optics Nationals, Team SIG had some stellar performances, with Max Michel and Lena Miculek proving once again that hard work and dedication will often result in championship victories. Michel is this year's Carry Optics Champion, and Miculek won the Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) High Lady award.

This year marks Michel's third consecutive USPSA Carry Optics title. For gear, he was using the SIG Sauer P320 X5 pistol with ROMEO1 optic, along with SIG Match Elite Pistol ammo. Michel finished the match with 91.38 percent of available points, and for seven of the 22 stages he was the number one finisher.

“I am proud of all that I have achieved at this point in my career, and I owe it to the support of the team I have around me, and the backing of the SIG Sauer brand and their superior products,” said Michel. “Team SIG is stronger than ever and I can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store for all of us.”

As for Miculek, not only was she the PCC High Lady, her score of 91.53 was fourth overall in the PCC division, making Miculek the first woman shooter to place in the top five in the history of the USPSA Nationals. Additionally, she was the PCC Master class winner. 

“My proudest moment as a professional shooter came at [the 2018] SIG Sauer Optics Nationals,” said Miculek. “For 2019 my goal is to set new records on behalf of Team SIG in PCC, and become the first female PCC Grandmaster.”

Miculek's best performance was on Stage 1, finishing in the top three for the stage. As for her equipment, she was shooting the SIG Sauer MPX with a ROMEO3 sight, with SIG Match Elite ammo.

And, it wasn't just Michel and Miculek who did well this year at the USPSA Nationals. Fellow SIG shooters Phil Strader and Mason Lane placed fourth and third for the aggregate championship, respectively. Both were using the same pistol, ammo and gear as Michel.

Team SIG has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the action pistol world. With the recent addition of acclaimed U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit shooter Daniel Horner, we can certainly expect them to rack up even more wins in 2019.

The USPSA Optics Nationals were part of the 2018 “Nine Days of Nationals, conducted at the Universal Shooting Academy in Frostproof, FL, October 20-28.

Latest

2025 Nraworldshoot 4
2025 Nraworldshoot 4

Nils Jonasson On His 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship Victory

Nils Jonasson’s advice for competitors at the NRA World Shooting Championship is “Check your ego at the door.”

Max Michel and Lena Miculek Announce Departures from Team SIG Sauer

Max Michel and Lena Miculek have announced their departures from Team SIG Sauer, signaling a major transition for the company’s professional shooting team

One Stage at a Time: Diane McCoy’s Steel Challenge Story

Distinguished Senior Steel Challenge competitor Diane McCoy shares her story

Competitors’ Corner: October 2025

Highlights from the October 2025 issue of Shooting Sports USA, the NRA’s competitive shooting journal

Nils Jonasson Wins 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship

Nils Jonasson wins the 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship at Camp Atterbury, leading a standout field in the three-day, multi-discipline event

Champions & Change: 1980 National Matches

New records, historic wins and lasting legacies marked the 1980 NRA National Rifle and Pistol Championships—a landmark year for American marksmanship

Interests



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