THE COLLEGIATE
NRA COLLEGIATE SHOOTING PROGRAMS - FALL 1999
Standing; left to
right:
Kelly Pence, James Landzinski,
Pavan Tankha, Head Coach Paul Klimitas, Erik
Rachwalski, Mark Ciarlone,Rob Swoboda, Monica Labb
The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) has enjoyed a unique shooting history since 1934. Many rifle teams and clubs in the 1930's were predominantly fueled by large institutions with their roots traced to the U.S. Army's ROTC campus programs. USP (formally Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science) has never been affiliated with an on-campus ROTC unit and had a student population of under 1000 until 1980. USP has increased its enrollment to 2000 students in 1999. It is a private institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that concentrate on educating students in highly specialized health and science disciplines.
In 1953 the USP rifle club became a varsity athletic team. Forty-six years have given this program unusual stability, evidenced by the fact that only three coaches have run the team. There are very few varsity programs that have been able to offer their shooters this kind of instructional stability.
The USP varsity rifle team does not offer athletic shooting scholarships. Head Coach Paul Klimitas, known to his shooters as Coach K, does not actively recruit the traditional junior shooting hot beds, tournaments, and state clubs. Coach Klimitas is also a full time faculty member, Associate Athletic Director, Intramural Director, and Assistant Men's Basketball Coach, all while sitting on five faculty committees. However, after his 23 years as rifle coach, he is quick to admit that shooting plays a big role in his life. "I have never felt that there has been a need to actively recruit experienced shooters. It is important to me that a student wants to come here first for the academics." Though this may go against the grain of some college shooting programs, Coach K has the numbers to prove that there is some merit to this philosophy. He has coached over 250 different varsity rifle shooters, of which only 12 have come to USP with moderate high school or club experience. Yet the team marked its 1000th institutional varsity rifle win in 1993, has claimed NRA National Club Championships and MAC Divisional Championships with shooters that were mostly inexperienced when they arrived at USP. Klimitas adds to this that "there is something really satisfying about coaching a novice as a freshman and when graduation arrives they leave as a respectable league and tournament competitor."In fact, this year at Camp Perry Coach K had four of his alumni ( 1 Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2 Doctors of Pharmacy and 1 Science Teacher) along with the captain of his 1999-2000 varsity team. "You see, that's what its all about for me - promotion of our sport! I am not at all interested in training my kids for the Olympics. There is no greater compliment a coach can be given than to see his shooters continue competing in the sport, and they in turn, promote the positive side of competitive shooting."
Another unusual aspect of the USP varsity rifle team is the positive news coverage it receives on campus. The squad is frequently highlighted in the University newspaper, alumni
magazines, and has been recognized in the Philadelphia newspapers (something different for a major city!). Anthony Berard, USP Rifle Team Captain says, "at USP the students know who we are and we are well respected. At some other colleges its the football stars that get noticed. On our campus we're kind of the stars!"
Coach K insists on good performances in the classroom. This past year, of the 22 team members, eleven made the Dean's List and had a combined team grade point average of 3.14. Assistant Coach Pete Daliclowicz adds, "We let our students know right up front that academics come first! Rifle is not going to put the bread and butter on the table. We keep the term 'student-athlete'i n the proper order."
The last unique aspect of the USP Varsity Rifle Team is that it is the only varsity rifle team in the United States that is not affiliated with the NCAA. The institutional philosophy of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is that they choose to hold membership in NAIA. This is an association of over 200 smaller colleges and universities. Though affiliation with the NCAA is a possibility this has always created a dilemma for the team in that they are placed in the club division of the NRA Intercollegiate Sectionals even though they are a varsity team. However, this has never created a problem in the team's schedule. USP shoots a six team match schedule that includes such MAC and nationally ranked members like USNA, Norwich, USMA, Duquesne, Canisius, North Carolina State, MIT, Coast Guard and VMI.
The USP varsity rifle team is certainly a unique story. They have their own eight point indoor shooting range, provide shooting equipment for over twenty athletes, compete against many of the country's most respected teams, has a head coach with over 600 career wins, and most importantly experience is not necessary for tearn membership -just interest and a good work ethic.
The rifle team is extremely well-supported by its shooting alumni. Over 75% of its alumni makes contributions to the institution, and in turn, keeps an interest in the current team through fund raisers, alumni newsletters, alumni rifle matches, and its newly established website (http://www.usip.edu/athletics/Rifle).
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Department of Athletics
600 S. 43rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-895-3133