ISSF PISTOL

In the beginning it was just Dr. Valcik trying to compete in ISSF Pistol Collegiately by himself after transferring to Collin County Community College in the Fall of 1991. Dr. Valcik then decided to "form" a student organization since there was no pistol team at Collin County Community College. Since there were only Freshman and Sophomores at Collin County Community College this posed to be a problem temporarily. Dr. Valcik was then admitted to the University of Texas at Dallas in the Spring of 1992 and decided to combine both institutions into one combined team and requested (and received) the National Rifle Association approval to compete as one team in both state and national competition since at that time the University of Texas at Dallas had only a few Freshman and Sophomores being a traditionally upper level and graduate institution. The University of North Texas students were then added since Collin County Community College students were transferring to that institution as well. Students were recruited to shoot for the team through a variety of means as Dr. Valcik was the Captain, Coach and a competitor as well in Air Pistol, Free Pistol and Standard Pistol. One of the first students Dr. Valcik recruited was Eric Colbath from his biology class. Eric Colbath would transfer first to the University of North Texas and then shortly thereafter to the University of Texas at Dallas where he would become a 2 Time All American in Collegiate ISSF Pistol. Except for one match funded at Texas A&M University in the Fall of 1992, all other matches, equipment, targets, range fees and ammunition were all self-funded by team members. Many of the team members were not only full-time students, but all worked jobs as well to pay for school and competition. Dr. Valcik made and put up a number of flyers around Collin County Community College and the University of Texas at Dallas to recruit members. In spite of one professor at the University of Texas at Dallas in particular who was ripping down approved flyers, the team managed to eventually have 6 faculty/staff advisors, 2 additional coaches and 55 students from the three schools who competed and practiced with the Trident Pistol Team from 1991 to 1995. Many of these students served in the thankless position of being officers of the student organization boards for Collin County Community College and the University of Texas at Dallas. Besides Dr. Valcik who went to Collegiate Nationals in 1991, Eric Colbath would go to Collegiate Nationals in 1993, 1994 and 1995 and Chris Jones would also go to Collegiate Nationals in 1995. Dr. Valcik and Eric Colbath would continue to compete after they graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with their undergraduate degrees. A number of Trident Pistol Team members would graduate with their undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Texas at Dallas.

The above image is an example of a typical flyer for Trident Pistol Team that was posted up for recruiting purposes. For a team that never had financial support, equipment support and a range, Trident Pistol Team managed to hold their own against nationally known universities and colleges. The equipment personally owned and used by the team members were often loaned to other team members which caused sights and grips to be readjusted during practices and even during matches, which was extremely difficult. Equipment used during this time for Air Pistol was Fienwerkbau C-20's, Fienwerkbau C-25's, Fienwerkbau C-20 mini, Fienwerkbau C-25 mini, FAS 604, Crossman Skanaker, Steyr LP1 and a RWS Gamo Compact. For Standard Pistol equipment used was Ruger MKII's modified with Volquartsen triggers and Morini Grips, High Standard Supermatic Trophy M-107, High Standard HD - Military, Ruger MK I, Hammerli 280's and a Walther GSP. For Free Pistol the team used a Hammer 152, SP-1 Roaners, CM-80 Morini's, Hammerli 150 and a Toz 35.

This section of the website is dedicated to the many students, staff and volunteers who helped make the Trident Pistol Team successful.