Tucked away in southern Michigan, Hillsdale College is quietly shaping the future of American shooting sports. With more than $30 million invested in the John A. Halter Shooting Sports Education Center, Hillsdale has become a premier destination for collegiate athletes pursuing excellence in shotgun, rifle pistol and even action-shooting disciplines like USPSA. (Watch the “American Rifleman TV” segment above or at YouTube.)
“We have 113 acres out there,” said Matt Little, Range Manager at the Halter Center. “Five bunker fields, American Trap, Skeet, a 23-station sporting clays course, seven pistol bays and we’re building a 64,000 square foot indoor/outdoor precision air and pistol building.”
But Hillsdale’s impact extends far beyond infrastructure. The college is a partner in USA Shooting, the national governing body for Olympic shooting sports. In fact, Hillsdale regularly hosts high-profile matches including SCTP (Scholastic Clay Target Program) and ACUI Collegiate Championships—key feeders into the U.S. Olympic shotgun team.
“There’s not many places in the country that can host a national match like this,” said Wayne Rasmussen, National Director of SCTP.
The athletes are just as impressive as the facilities. Kyle Fleck, a senior on Hillsdale’s shotgun team, travels across the country to compete: “It’s one of the best programs in the country. We practice three days a week, and the opportunities here are amazing.”
For many, like Hillsdale shotgun team shooter Sophia Bultema, the experience goes deeper: “Shooting has opened a lot of doors for me. It’s kind of given me a direction to go with my life. I can genuinely say I’ve met some of the best people in my life … My best friends are on the team, and the shooting experience is like unparalleled, because we get so much funding and support from everyone. I just love it here.”
The program isn’t limited to traditional shotgun sports. Hillsdale is also blazing a trail in action shooting. Student-athletes compete in USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association) matches, and Hillsdale hosted the nation’s first collegiate-specific USPSA competition last year at the Halter Center.
“We’re really trying to set the precedent,” said Kayla Mullen, a member of Hillsdale’s varsity action shooting team. “There’s growing interest nationwide, and we’re showing other schools that this is a real sport worthy of recognition and support.”
With top-tier coaching and a vision for the future, Hillsdale College has built more than just a competitive program—it’s fostering Olympic dreams and life skills in shooting sports.
“Our students aren’t just good shooters,” Little said. “They’re good students, good citizens and world-class athletes. That attitude starts at the top, and we’re proud of that.”
