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BUNKER HILL, Ill.--notable The Maine Maritime Academy marksmanship shotgun team made its official Mariners debut in fine fashion this weekend at the United States of America Clay Target League (USACCTL) College National Championships, which was divided into the gold and silver divisions.

Maine Maritime, which was comprised by a five-person team of graduate student Jorge Morales-Lopez, seniors Oscar Michetti, Andrew Larsen-Sorterup, junior Alexander Banning and freshman Travis Wittwer, competed in the two-day event. Among the notable achievements by MMA in the USACCTL Silver Division included personal best scores by each individual, Wittwer and Banning achieved 25 straight scores during the competition, and Wittwer placed third to claim a national award. He broke 189 out of 200 targets and was recognized as one of the nation's top college shotgun trap shooters.

"These students worked hard and sacrificed for this opportunity to represent MMA in their first-ever national competition," said coach Ken VanSpronsen. "They did a phenomenal job, a testament to their hard work and dedication.

"Today, they concluded their hard-fought journey against over 200 students from other colleges and universities around the nation to see who was the best shotgun trap shooter. I congratulate them all on making MMA history at this national competition."

(Editor's notes: Photos provided...Travis Witter, shown below, displays his third-place trophy.)