The University of the Ozarks athletic department has announced it will expand its current men's and women's clay target shooting team.
The shooting sports team already has a number of athletes participating. In 2010 Ozarks established a clay target shooting team and later that same year became the first shooting program from Arkansas to compete in the Association of College Union’s Intercollegiate Clay Target Championships in San Antonio, Texas.
The shooting sports program will compete as an Olympic sport.
Earlier this month, the University announced the addition of men’s wrestling and cheer/STUNT for the 2013-2014 academic year, bringing the total number of competitive sports to 15.
"The addition of clay target shooting as an Olympic sport will provide even greater opportunities for students to compete at the college level," said U of O President Richard Dunsworth. "Our natural outdoor setting creates a variety of recreational interests, and we want to continue broadening that with appealing programs. We are pleased to expand our shooting sports while still emphasizing a liberal arts education in a student-centered environment."
The clay target shooting team will compete against other collegiate programs around the region.
"This is a sport that students have a desire to compete in at the collegiate level," said Clark. "It appeals to students across the region. At the local level, the shooting sports teams at Clarksville and Lamar have a great number of participants."
Ozarks offers baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis and men’s wrestling at the NCAA Division III varsity level. Additionally, Ozarks offers competitive cheer/STUNT, and men’s and women’s clay target shooting.
The searches for the head coaches is currently underway.
Topics: Athletics