Sparta, Ill. - The University of Tennessee Southern Clay Target squad began their 2021-22 quest this weekend in the ACUI Midwest Conference Championships. UTS won the 2021 ACUI D2 National Championship last season, but this season the Firehawks are competing in D1.

The Firehawks finished 2nd overall. The won the Super Sporting and the Doubles Skeet events. UTS finished runner-up in Sporting Clays, 3rd in Doubles Trap and finished 4th in American Trap.

Firehawk senior Brantley Whitwell scored a 524/550 to earn the HOA Conference Championship, he also won the individual Sporting Clay Championship with a 89/100, and he was runner-up in Trap with a 100/100 + 104.

Junior Daylon Mahn scored a 523/550 to finish 2nd in the HOA Conference Championship, he placed 2nd in the individual Super Sporting Championship, and he was 3rd in Sporting Clays HOA.

UTS had five men in the top 10 HOA and two out of the top three women over all.

Freshman Cali Whitwell placed 2nd in HOA Conference Female Championship, and she won both the Super Sporting and Sporting Clay Championships.

Senior Eli Christman won the Doubles Skeet Championship.

Sophomore Eden Samson won the Female Doubles Skeet Championship.

Junior Sara Ratliff finished 3rd Conference HOA, 2nd in Super Sporting and 3rd in Female Doubles Skeet.

Coach Chad Whittenburg commented on the teams performance, "In keeping with how we ended our time as RedHawks as National Champions this past season, this group of student athletes continue to rise to the occasion. Competing against D1 teams twice our size is a hard feat to overcome. Not just by the sheer numbers alone, but the discipline and perseverance we showed. We accomplished what we wanted by having a great first outing and letting the Clay Target community know that UT Southern has arrived! I'm thrilled about what the future holds for this team!"

NEXT UP

The Firehawks will travel to Nashville, Tenn. to compete in the ACUI Super Shoot on November 11th.