Virginia Teams Excel At SASP Collegiate Nationals

Talladega, AL – Collegiate teams from the Commonwealth recently competed in the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) Collegiate Nationals at the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Talladega, Alabama facility. The Liberty University Action Shooting Team defended their national title in rimfire rifle, and the Virginia Tech Corps Marksmanship Unit (CMU) returned for their second trip to the national championship. SASP awards both squad and individual awards, with Virginia teams taking the lion’s share of both across multiple categories. Commonwealth teams, competing in squads of four, captured the national championship in seven of eight SASP disciplines, five second place finishes and three third place finishes.

Virginia_SASP.jpg – The full Virginia contingent at SASP Collegiate Nationals in Talladega, Alabama.

Specifically, Virginia teams placed as follows at the 4-person squad level:
Rimfire Pistol Iron Division (22LR)
1 st Place – VT Corps Marksmanship Unit
o Cadet Adam Jardines
o Cadet Mitchell McClure
o Cadet Cooper Rapp
o Cadet Edward Zhou

2 nd Place – VT Corps Marksmanship Unit
o Cadet Samuel Boin
o Cadet Stanley Brown
o Cadet Jacob Bush
o Cadet William Nance

3 rd Place – Liberty University
o Kathryn Allen
o Wilburn Caden
o Gabriel Goodman
o Connelly Weems

Rimfire Pistol Optic Division (22LR)
1 st Place – Liberty University
o Anderson Bennett
o Wilburn Caden
o Gabriel Goodman
o Sam Verdoorn

2 nd Place – VT Corps Marksmanship Unit
o Cadet Samuel Boin
o Cadet Stanley Brown
o Cadet Jacob Bush
o Cadet William Nance

Centerfire Pistol Iron Division (9mm)
1 st Place – Liberty University
o Jacob Beebe
o Anderson Bennett
o James Clinton
o Sam Verdoorn

Centerfire Pistol Optic Division (9mm)
1 st Place – VT Corps Marksmanship Unit
o Cadet Adam Jardines
o Cadet Mitchell McClure
o Cadet Cooper Rapp
o Cadet Edward Zhou

Rimfire Rifle Iron Division (22LR)
1 st Place – Liberty University
o Cami Barshinger
o Anderson Bennett
o Zachary Larsen
o Sam Verdoorn

2 nd Place – Liberty University
o Kathryn Allen
o Jacob Beebe
o James Clinton
o Christian Morgan

3 rd Place – VT Corps Marksmanship Unit
o Cadet Hunter Lambert
o Cadet Cooper Rapp
o Cadet Cole Shackelford
o Cadet Jacob Withers

Rimfire Rifle Optics Division (22LR)
1 st Place – Liberty University
o Cami Barshinger
o Anderson Bennett
o Zachary Larsen
o Sam Verdoorn

2 nd Place – Liberty University
o Kathryn Allen
o Jacob Beebe
o Wilburn Caden
o Christian Morgan

3 rd Place – VT Corps Marksmanship Unit
o Cadet Hunter Lambert
o Cadet Cooper Rapp
o Cadet Cole Shackelford
o Cadet Jacob Withers

Pistol Caliber Carbine Division (9mm)
1 st Place – Liberty University
o Cami Barshinger
o James Clinton
o Christian Morgan
o Sam Verdoorn

2 nd Place – Liberty University
o Kathryn Allen
o Jacob Beebe
o Zachary Larsen
o Connelly Weems

LU_SASP_trophies.jpg – Liberty University athletes and coaching staff with the Mowry Rifle Cup and the Hodne Cup.

At the individual level, Commonwealth athletes likewise distinguished themselves with the ladies of Liberty University being particularly dominant:

Ladies Rimfire Pistol Iron Division – High Overall
1 st Place – Kathryn Allen, Liberty University
2 nd Place – Connelly Weems, Liberty University

Men’s Rimfire Pistol Iron Division – High Overall
1 st Place – Cadet Adam Jardines, VT Corps Marksmanship Unit
2 nd Place – Cadet Edward Zhou, VT Corps Marksmanship Unit
3 rd Place – Cadet William Nance, VT Corps Marksmanship Unit

Men’s Rimfire Pistol Optic Division – High Overall
2 nd Place – Sam Verdoorn, Liberty University
3 rd Place – Anderson Bennett, Liberty University

Men’s Centerfire Pistol Iron Division – High Overall
3 rd Place – Sam Verdoorn, Liberty University

Men’s Centerfire Pistol Optic Division – High Overall
2 nd Place – Cadet Edward Zhou, VT Corps Marksmanship Unit
3 rd Place – Cadet Adam Jardines, VT Corps Marksmanship Unit

Ladies Rimfire Rifle Iron Division – High Overall
1 st Place – Kathryn Allen, Liberty University
2 nd Place – Cami Barshinger, Liberty University
3 rd Place – Connelly Weems, Liberty University

Men’s Rimfire Rifle Iron Division – High Overall
1 st Place – Sam Verdoorn, Liberty University

Ladies Rimfire Rifle Optics Division – High Overall
1 st Place – Cami Barshinger, Liberty University
2 nd Place – Kathryn Allen, Liberty University
3 rd Place – Connelly Weems, Liberty University

Men’s Rimfire Rifle Optics Division – High Overall
1 st Place – Sam Verdoorn, Liberty University
3 rd Place – Zachary Larsen, Liberty University

Ladies Pistol Caliber Carbine – High Overall
1 st Place – Kathryn Allen, Liberty University
2 nd Place – Cami Barshinger, Liberty University
3 rd Place – Connelly Weems, Liberty University

Men’s Pistol Caliber Carbine – High Overall
1 st Place – Sam Verdoorn, Liberty University
3 rd Place – Wilburn Caden, Liberty University

VTCMU.jpg – Cadets from the Virginia Tech Corps Marksmanship unit and their coach MGySgt Lance Jones.

Liberty University retained the Tammy L. Mowry Rifle Cup and brought home to the Commonwealth the Daniel C. Hodne Pistol Cup. Capturing the Hodne Cup is particularly noteworthy as it broke the five-year winning streak of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. The Hokie Cadets again bested Texas A&M Cadets in the rimfire rifle division but this time they opened the lead by over 20 seconds.

SASP State Advisor Dr. Eliot Jardines stated, “Our collegiate teams have achieved tremendous success in a very short period of time. This was only Liberty University’s third time at Collegiate Nationals and their dominance is unquestioned. The Virginia Tech Corps Marksmanship Unit managed to capture two national championships with only a year and a half in the program. I was particularly impressed with how the ladies of Liberty University swept most of the high overall awards.”

Both teams have established MidwayUSA Foundation endowment accounts and would greatly appreciate any donations to help them establish a firm financial foundation. Donations are tax- deductible – to donate please visit:

Liberty University Action Shooting Team - https://www.midwayusafoundation.org/team-profile/?id=R17945

Virginia Tech Corps Marksmanship Unit – https://www.midwayusafoundation.org/team-profile/?id=R18084

Thanks to Eliot Jardines, Ed.D. - VA & WV State Advisor, Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) for the above article and photos.

Virginia Dominates National Championship

Collegiate teams from the Commonwealth recently competed in the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) Collegiate Nationals at the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Talladega, Alabama facility. - The Liberty University Action Shooting Team and the Virginia Tech Corps Marksmanship Unit (CMU) competed against 10 collegiate teams who fielded a total of 46 competitive 4-person squads. SASP awards both squad and individual awards, and Virginia teams took the lion’s share of both across multiple categories.

In the Rimfire Pistol Iron Sights Division, Liberty University took the National Championship with the Virginia Tech CMU besting their archrivals the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Marksmanship Unit by nearly 20 seconds. At the individual level, Liberty’s Sam Verdoorn and Sam Stover took 2nd and 3rd place respectively among males. In the Rimfire Pistol Optic Division, Virginia Tech’s CMU took 3rd place and at the individual level CMU’s Cadet Adam Jardines took 2nd overall in the male category with Cadet Brianna Smiley taking 3rd in the female category.

In Rimfire Rifle Iron Sights, Liberty University’s “Blue” squad took the championship with its “Red” squad taking 3rd place. At the individual level, Christian Morgan took 2nd place in the male division. In Rimfire Rifle Optic Division, Liberty’s “Blue” squad took 1st place with Timothy “TJ” McFarland taking 2nd for males and Connelly Weems taking 2nd among the females.

In the Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) Division, Liberty again took the national championship, thus capturing the national title in all divisions the university entered. An incredible achievement by the students and their Head Coach, Bill Crawford. At the individual level, Sam Verdoorn took 2nd for males and Connelly Weems took 2nd for the ladies.

SASP State Advisor Dr. Eliot Jardines stated, “Our collegiate teams have achieved tremendous success in a very short period of time. This was only Liberty University’s second time at Collegiate Nationals and their dominance is unquestioned. The Virginia Tech Corps Marksmanship Unit was established just before winter break in mid-December and largely practiced with simulators. To have placed 3rd in a division is a testament to the hard work the cadets put in and to Head Coach Jones’ vision. We look forward to seeing both teams again at the Virginia/West Virginia Championship later this summer at Shadow Hawk Defense.”

Both teams have established MidwayUSA Foundation endowment accounts and would greatly appreciate any donations to help them establish a firm financial foundation. Donations are tax-deductible – to donate please the links under each photo:

Liberty University athletes with the Tammy Mowry Rifle Cup

Liberty University Action Shooting Teameam

Cadets from the Virginia Tech Corps Marksmanship unit and their coach MGySgt Lance Jones

Virginia Tech Corps Marksmanship Unit