ST. CHARLES, Mo. – While most schools would be thrilled at the thought of winning one national championship, one team at Lindenwood has had 15 of them, in a row.
That's not a typo. Fifteen national championships in a row, all of them by the Lindenwood shotgun sports team.
"I mean it’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen," said Ryan Osborne, a junior on the team.
"We have been D-1 champions for 15 years," he said.
The Lions trailed Texas A&M by one target with one event remaining at the ACUI Collegiate Clay Target National Championships at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio earlier this month.
Lindenwood finished with an overall score of 2,492, just three points ahead of the Aggies. It was the smallest margin of victory for Lindenwood in any of its national championships.
“This year I was probably more proud of the team than any other year," said head coach Shawn Dulohery.
Dulohery joked he said, "several prayers" during the team's latest championship. But with the talent he's continued to accrue at Lindenwood most weren't shocked to see the team pull off another victory.
“We are able to get some of the best shooters in the country here and they all perform at the right time," said Osborne.
“When it’s time, they flip a switch and they start working well together and they help each other and that’s what keeps this family rollin," said Dulohery, who was on the U.S. Olympic team for several years.
The last time Lindenwood didn't win the national title, George W. Bush was still serving his first term as president and Mike Matheny was still catching for the Cardinals.
Aside from the recruiting, the team puts in the time at the range needed to perfect their skills.
“Practice. Practice and a lot of ammo. And money. That’s what it is," said Shawn Kemeter, a senior All-American.
“The more time you spend out here the better you get," said Osborne. “We shoot roughly five to six hundred rounds a week.”
It's obviously too early to start thinking about number 16, but if the team leans on one another like in years' past, the epic title run may not end any time soon.
“We’re able to overcome a lot of challenges based on our numbers and our ability to shoot professionally," said Kemeter.
