The MSU Marksmanship Club is taking aim at a new goal - becoming an official club sport.
The club, which was started about four years ago, has grown to 45 due-paying members. Club members participate in monthly activities including pistol night, women's handgun night and .22 rifle caliber competitions.
"We want it to be a real team, a real sport, not just going out and having fun - which is fine, too," club President Oliver Schmitt said. "MSU should have a team, and we're working toward that."
Giving the organization a more serious feel and opening up funding opportunities are two reasons the group is seeking club sport status from Intramural Sports, said Phillip Delekta, former president and current member.
"It will help us organize better as a team instead of a random group of people," Delekta said. "A club is different than a team - there's a little more commitment when you're part of a team."
Eastern Michigan University and Western Michigan University both have shooting sports as teams, though not varsity teams, so the move will put MSU's organization on par with the other clubs, Delekta added.
The University of Michigan had a varsity team, but when the university tore down its shooting range, it also became a club sport, said Sarah Hodson, president of the U-M club.
The U-M group competes in "mail-in competitions," something Schmitt said MSU's group could do if it becomes a club sport.
"We shoot targets and mail them in to compete against other Big Ten Universities," Hudson said. "We are going to Purdue the first weekend of spring break to shoot shoulder to shoulder with other teams."
The MSU team would be focused on precision air rifle, an Olympic sport that involves shooting 15 meters away from a small target in standing, kneeling and lying positions, Delekta said.
The group was started by MSU alumnus Daniel Medford. He said he was surprised that a large university such as MSU didn't have a group and wanted to give students the opportunity to learn how to shoot in a safe and proper way.
"It's a great activity to do - something that a lot of people don't necessarily experience," Medford said. "You go to college and have all these things at your fingertips. Having a club or even a team would teach people the right way to handle a firearm."
The group has NRA-certified instructors who begin every class or competition with a safety lecture, Schmitt said.
Although they would like to be a club sport, the main focus of group is promoting firearm safety, Schmitt said.
"A lot of people have a fear of guns, which I don't think is warranted," Schmitt said. "If they're taught how to use firearms safely and properly, it helps to demystify guns to people who don't have experience with them."
