VCSU Shooting Sports Places 3rd at Nationals

Photo: From left, Kasey Odegaard, Gretchen Deaver, Cali Steffan, Taylor Knutsen, Jake Hennings, Coach Nick Galt

VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – The VCSU Shooting Sports team capped off its season with an unforgettable performance at the trap shooting national championship, earning third place overall with a combined score of 955/1000. The team also brought home two individual podium finishes with Gretchen Deaver placing second in the Female Gold Category and Cali Steffan finishing third.

Five members of the VCSU Shooting Sports team made the trip to Bunker Hill, Illinois, for the 2026 USA College Clay Target League Trap Shooting National Championship, held Oct. 30-Nov. 1. A total of 17 teams and more than 180 shooters competed at the event.

The team entered the weekend with a clear goal: improve on last year’s performance. From the first round to the final shot, VCSU delivered consistent scores, individual milestones, and some of its strongest performances of the season.

Day 1 began with several outstanding scores. Deaver led the team with a perfect 100/100, while Kasey Odegaard followed closely with a 99/100. Steffan and Jake Hennings each posted scores of 96/100, and Taylor Knutson finished the day with an 89/100.

Odegaard recorded both a 25 straight and a 50 straight during the first day of competition, while Deaver’s perfect round had her leading the Female Gold Category heading into Day 2. Steffan sat ninth in Female Gold, Odegaard was third in Male Gold, Hennings was among the top 20 in Male Gold, and Knutson held fourth place in Female Silver.

The team carried that momentum into the second day. Steffan and Odegaard each shot 97/100, Deaver finished with 96/100, Hennings posted a 94/100, and Knutson recorded a 91/100.

After both days of competition, Odegaard and Deaver led VCSU with matching overall scores of 196/200. Steffan finished with a 193/200, Hennings recorded a 190/200, and Knutson finished with a 180/200.

Those performances ultimately secured several major honors for VCSU. Deaver earned second place in the Female Gold Category, Steffan took third, and the team finished third overall out of 17 teams with a score of 955/1000. Odegaard’s total placed him fifth in the Male Gold category.

The final day also brought several more milestones. Hennings, Steffan, Knutson, and Odegaard each recorded a 25 straight, while Deaver ended nationals with an impressive 50 straight.

The third-place team finish marked an exciting conclusion to a season filled with growth and strong performances. The athletes accomplished their goal of improving on the previous year and showed impressive consistency throughout both days of competition.

VCSU Shooting Sports would also like to thank everyone who supported the team throughout the season. The encouragement from family, community members, and Valley City State University helped make the season and the trip to nationals possible.

With multiple podium finishes, a third-place team finish, and countless memories made throughout the weekend, the team could not have asked for a better way to close out the season. VCSU Shooting Sports is already looking forward to the opportunity to return next year and continue building on this year’s success.