Sports shooting back at SWCC

After a short hiatus last year, sports shooting will be coming back to Southwestern Community College with the hiring of Mark Johnson as head sports shooting coach.

“Mr. Johnson brings extensive sports shooting to Southwestern,” Dean of Student Services Kim Bishop said. “He actually served as our assistant coach from 2022 to 2024 and has assisted at East Union. He will predominantly be focusing on recruitment this year.”

The college hopes to go back to competition in the 2026-27 school year once students have been recruited.

SWCC first fielded a sports shooting team in 2013. Open to men and women, the team practiced at High Lakes Outdoor Alliance in Afton and competed against other teams in shooting events across the Midwest and country.

Sports shooting has gained popularity in the U.S. in the last few decades after the U.S. formed a shooting team in 1995. In this sport, participants use a range of weapons to test accuracy, precision and speed in shooting. In 2015, the Spartans even received Congressional recognition by then-Congressman David Young after the team won the Iowa Collegiate Sports Shooting Conference Championship.

In the Congressional Record document, which was mailed to SWCC head sports shooting coach Charlie Mundy, Young said “the example set by these students and coaches demonstrates that hard work, dedication and perseverance deliver results.”

More recently, the sports shooting team at Southwestern won a national championship in sporting clays in San Antonio, Texas, in 2023.

In other SWCC news...

Alexa Anderson of Mount Ayr has been hired as the assistant softball coach for the 2025-26 school year.

Due to issues with roof leakage, the ORBIT Center in Osceola was not able to have their previously planned open house. Once repairs are made, a new open house will be scheduled, likely in early September.

Two board of trustee members were honored for their years of service to the SWCC board. The Community Colleges for Iowa Trustee Conference added a new level of recognition this year, now honoring trustees for 15 years of service.

“However, since 2025 marks the first year of this recognition, the community colleges for Iowa board honored all currently serving trustees with 15 to 24 years of service as a one-time catchup,” SWCC President Lindsay Stoaks said. “Seventeen trustees from across the state were recognized, and Southwestern was very fortunate to have two.”

Fred Shearer, who has been a member of the board since 2002, hit his 15-year mark in 2017. He has also served as the board’s vice president since 2017.

Tony Cass, who has been a member of the board since 2009, hit his 15-year mark in 2024. He has also served as the board’s president since 2017.

“Thank you for all of your service,” Stoaks said. “It was nice to see you all recognized.”