Hampden-Sydney Shooting Sports Academy

In February 1775, on the eve of our nation’s founding, the Hanover Presbytery held a special meeting at Prince Edward County’s Slate Hill Plantation to organize an educational institution that would form the good men and good citizens needed to lead the emerging Republic. Slate Hill was the home of Nathaniel Venable, who was among the College’s founders, and this meeting was held in his law office, now known as “The Birthplace” of Hampden-Sydney College. (The Birthplace was moved to the Hampden-Sydney campus in the 1940s.) The College’s founders chose the name Hampden-Sydney to symbolize their devotion to the principles of representative government and civil and religious freedom for which John Hampden (1594-1643) and Algernon Sidney (Sydney) (1622-1683) gave their lives in England’s constitutional crises of the 17th Century. Hampden and Sydney were revered by American colonial patriots and their names were associated with the cause of independence championed by James Madison and Patrick Henry, who were among the charter trustees of Hampden-Sydney College.

Nearly 250 years later, Slate Hill and The Birthplace are symbols of the timeless mission and values of the College’s founders that the College continues to pursue today.

The course and site plans were designed by Rick Hemingway, designer, owner, and operator of Back Woods Quail Club, a first-class shooting facility in Georgetown, South Carolina that has played host to the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) U.S. Open Championships and other prominent events. Mr. Hemingway is a well-known and highly sought-after course designer, whose plans and expertise provided Hampden-Sydney with excellent trap, skeet, and sporting clays facilities. The site plan includes two five stand facilities, two skeet and trap fields, and a 15-station sporting clays course set on a beautiful, wooded, mile-long loop.

The proposed lodge, to be constructed in the near future, has been designed to reflect architectural elements of the original Venable Slate Hill house and will offer space for hosting events and tournaments, a coach’s office, viewing porch, and catering amenities.

Overview of skeet/trap and five stand facilities and course

Skeet and trap field

Five stand station #1

Currently, the Shooting Team is comprised of 26 students, representative of all class levels at the College and guided by Coach Ty Schoolar ’20. Coach Schoolar brings an extensive amount of knowledge and background with competitive shooting to the team. The expansion of the shooting facilities at Slate Hill includes:

• Expansion of the competitive team
• Creation of recreational/ “club” shooting sports opportunities
• Increase in the number of weekly team practices
• Alumni and parent events throughout the academic year
• Recruitment of prospective students interested in sporting clays
• Hosting collegiate level tournaments

2026-2027 Team Captains

• Caden Tanner
• Riley Hite
• John Lewis

Coach Ty Schoolar ’20 is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, where he was a four-year member of the shooting team. During his collegiate career, he served in every student leadership position within the program, demonstrating a strong commitment to the team both on and off the range.

A lifelong enthusiast of the shooting sports, hunting, and fishing, Coach Schoolar brings a deep passion for the outdoors and competitive shooting to the program. As a student and coach, he was involved in the development of Slate Hill and has an extensive knowledge of the facility and its operations.

Returning to Hampden-Sydney as a coach is both an honor and an opportunity to give back to the program that had such a significant impact on his college experience. Coach Schoolar is committed to developing student-athletes and building a nationally competitive shooting program.

Contact: tschoolar@hsc.edu

Starting in the fall of 2026, students who want to learn more about the shooting sports and students who would like to shoot recreationally will have the opportunity to sign up for weekly events at the Shooting Sports Academy.

Please contact Coach Schoolar with any questions at tschoolar@hsc.edu.

The competitive shooting team will offer tryouts during the fall and spring. Information and details will be sent to students via email. Coach Schoolar is always happy to answer any questions about the competitive and recreational programs. Please contact him at tschoolar@hsc.edu.