It's a daunting task to improve upon the best season in program history.<br /> <br /> That's the challenge facing the 2024-25 Hillsdale College Shotgun Sports team, but also one they have the tools to accomplish.<br /> <br /> In 2023-24, Hillsdale won collegiate national titles in both international trap and skeet disciplines in the fall portion of its schedule, then capped the year with the ACUI/SCTP Division II National Championship in March in San Antonio. It was the program's eighth ACUI/SCTP national title, but Hillsdale's first at the Division II level after seven titles in Division III.<br /> <br /> Although the Division II title was a first-time accomplishment after years of striving, Hillsdale is well-positioned to defend the crown. Eight of Hillsdale's 11 All-Americans at the 2024 ACUI/SCTP National Championships return this fall. That includes Hillsdale's top male shooter at that event, senior Joshua Corbin, who finished runner-up in the nation individually in the High Overall Average race, and the Chargers' top female shooter, sophomore Madeline Corbin, who placed third in the nation in HOA among women at the meet, and won Combined Skeet, Doubles, and Singles titles.<br /> <br /> Along with the Corbin siblings, Hillsdale also returns sophomore Jordan Sapp, a multi-time medalist for USA Shooting in international competition and the defending individual collegiate national champion in International Skeet, and Jessica Strasser, the defending combined trap women's national champion. Returning All-Americans Jonathan Calabrese, Leif Andersen, Luke Johnson, and Ava Downs give Hillsdale a stacked lineup of veteran competitors entering the 2024-25 campaign.<br /> <br /> Hillsdale will bolster that lineup with an impressive class of five incoming freshman shooters, including several state and national champions as well as athletes with significant success on USA Shooting circuits. Those five additions bring Hillsdale up to 18 shooters, the Chargers' largest-ever roster size. Those additional competitors could be decisive for Hillsdale at the national championship meet, where teams are allowed to field up to 20 shooters in Division II. That Hillsdale expanded its roster once again without sacrificing any quality only makes them a tougher champion for a challenger to unseat when March rolls around.<br /> <br /> The Chargers kick off the season on August 24 with a one-day shoot at the team's home facility, the John A. Halter Shooting Sports Education Center. That kicks off a busy fall at Halter, as the Chargers will get a chance to defend its International Discipline titles at home on Sept. 28 and 29, and also host the Great Lakes Championship and the Michigan College State Shoot in October and November.<br /> <br /> Perhaps the biggest home event for the Chargers this fall isn't even an official collegiate shoot. As the home of USA Shooting, the Halter Shooting Sports Center will play host to the USA Shooting National Championships from Sept. 11 to Sept. 22. While Hillsdale athletes won't be competing as a team, many will be taking part as individuals and success at one of the highest levels of the sport could give them momentum for the remainder of the season.<br /> <br /> Hillsdale finishes the year looking for its ninth national title and second-straight at the NCAA DII level at the ACUI/SCTP National Championships, hosted from March 15 through 23^rd in at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas.<br /> <br /> You can find the full schedule of events for the shotgun team <a href="https://hillsdalechargers.com/sports/shotgun/schedule">here</a>.<br />