Top Shot Returns: Students and faculty to compete
Liberty University’s Top Shot competition is back for its fourth year, offering members of the Liberty community an opportunity to display their shooting skills and win prizes.
Top Shot, scheduled for Oct. 20-22, takes place once per semester and is a multi-discipline shooting competition hosted by the Liberty Mountain Gun Club.
The competition provides participants with a chance to learn more about the Liberty Mountain Gun Club and the various shooting sports it offers.
Bill Crawford, senior director of Campus Recreation, explained the event’s format. Top Shot participants will shoot 25 rounds with a .22 rifle, 25 rounds with a pistol, 25 rounds with a shotgun and 25 rounds with a bow. A total of 100 rounds are fired in the competition, with one point awarded for each successful shot.
“The key to winning Top Shot is to be a good generalist,” Crawford said. “Even if you’re a sharpshooter with one type of firearm, it doesn’t guarantee victory unless you can also perform well with the others.”
Further explaining the competitive nature of Top Shot, Crawford said, “You’ve got to show us that you really are the top shot. You’re not the top rifle shooter. You’re not the top pistol shooter. You are the top shot overall.”
Participants in Top Shot are required to complete a two-hour General Firearm Safety Course, which helps them meet the criteria for obtaining a concealed carry permit and ensures safe participation in the event.
Crawford provided information on Top Shot’s schedule, stating that participants can compete over the course of the weekend of Oct. 20-22 with flexibility in choosing the order of their events.
On Friday, participants can compete from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The range will also be open on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. According to Crawford, the only restriction is that participants should have started the competition by Saturday at 4 p.m.
One of the highlights of Top Shot is the prize package. Winners can expect to receive a prize package valued at $200. Separate prize packages are available for the top male and top female competitors, with valuable shooting equipment up for grabs.
Crawford encouraged students to consider participating in Top Shot, emphasizing that it’s an exciting and laid-back event that offers a unique opportunity to get familiar with the Liberty Mountain Gun Club range and staff.
“(Top Shot) not only introduces people to the Liberty Mountain Gun Club facility, but also it’s kind of a laid-back competition, giving those that are interested in general shooting skills a chance to be able to come up, show off a little bit and compete with a pretty decent prize package,” Crawford said.
Top Shot is not only open to Liberty students around campus, but is also open to faculty and staff as well. This allows for the competition to be packed with a variety of different skill levels.
“A lot of times, faculty and staff don’t realize they’re eligible to participate,” Crawford said. “We want to make sure everyone has the chance to be a part of it.”
Registration for Top Shot is currently open and can be found on the Liberty Mountain Gun Club’s website. The entry fee is $25, and the competition is open to both beginners and experienced shooters.
To sign up for Top Shot and complete the required General Firearm Safety Course, visit this website.
Additionally, students can be on the lookout for more university-wide competitions, events and opportunities by visiting Campus Recreation’s homepage.
Solem is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion