March 26, 2015 – University of Utah students won two individual events, two team events and placed fourth overall at this year’s National Inter-Collegiate Pistol Championships at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Wyatt Brown, a sophomore majoring in film and theater studies, won the open air pistol and free pistol competitions. He also brought home all-American honors in all three open events and took second place in the aggregate of those events.

Lexi Lagan, a junior majoring in physics and pre-law, won the women’s aggregate competition and took the silver medal in women’s sport pistol and the bronze in women’s air pistol. She also brought home three all-American awards. Lagan went on to compete for a slot on the USA Shooting team, which represents the United States internationally and is sponsored by the U.S. Olympic Committee. She placed fourth in the sport pistol category at the USA Shooting Rifle/Pistol Spring Selection.

The national championships were held at Fort Benning on March 22-27. The NRA-sponsored competition determines the national collegiate individual and team champions in free pistol, standard pistol, open air pistol, women’s air pistol, women’s sport pistol and national collegiate team and individual champions in ROTC standard pistol. Competitors must qualify for an invitation to the national championships with exemplary scores fired in sectional competitions throughout the U.S. in January and February.

Prior to this year’s strong showing, the U pistol team had won only one team event and three individual events at nationals in 20 years. Matt DeLong, assistant pistol coach at the U, says the team “performed up to their potential in two events.” With three of our four team members returning, he adds, “Next year we should win the national championship.”

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Interested students may try out for membership on this winning team by contacting coach DeLong at 801-581-7462 or delong@physics.utah.edu.