Hillsdale or Bust
Written by Doug Goodnough
Kyle Fleck, ’26, started his shooting career at Hillsdale College with a bang.
During his freshman season on the Chargers shotgun team, Fleck went on an “unstoppable” run, hitting 399 out of 400 clay targets over separate skeet competitions.
“I just came out on a heater,” Fleck said of his amazing start. “And I’d never run 100 straight [targets] up to that point. I felt like I had a lot to prove to myself, and I wanted to be that super useful, valuable person. I had a lot of confidence with that [start].”
Although Fleck was unable to keep up that pace, he completed an impressive collegiate career last spring, leaving the program as an All-American while also earning multiple national and regional titles in skeet. He was selected to the 2023 USA Shooting Junior National Team.
As a member of the Mattawan SCTP Clay Target Team near his home of Schoolcraft, Michigan, Fleck targeted Hillsdale College early because of the recommendation of his then-coach Mike Carl, who also happened to coach the Chargers shotgun team at the time.
“[Carl] told me Hillsdale College is the place you want to go,” said Fleck, who learned about the school in fifth grade. “That kind of conditioned me throughout middle school and high school. I never applied anywhere else. It was Hillsdale or bust.”
Once on campus, he said he had to adjust to the rigorous academic standards as well as the team’s travel schedule.
“We do miss a lot of class as a shotgun team, so I think that was a big adjustment,” Fleck said. “Especially my first year, missing a week of class and trying to catch up on that. It was much harder than any of my high school work, so it was certainly a difficult transition. But the team was very supportive.”
He originally planned to study engineering but quickly pivoted once he took his first economics class.
“This is something I was interested in. It’s more tangible,” Fleck said. “I like the functionalities of money and how it interacts with the economy.”
The economics major had the opportunity to work on a special project for the College during the summer and fall of 2025.
“I did an internship in the President’s Office doing a research project analyzing the Hillsdale city budget compared to other similar cities in Michigan,” he said. “I think [the President’s Office] did it previously back in 2012, so they wanted to redo it. I said, ‘I’m available. I’ll try.’”
After completing the project in December, the College approached Fleck about a position with the Marketing Department. His role would be in product marketing, managing the marketing efforts of the Halter Shooting Sports Education Center among other College priorities.
Despite having to take one final class in the spring semester and competing with the shotgun team, Fleck was able to balance those commitments along with his new role at the College.
“I’m super grateful I was able to start my position in January,” Fleck said. “I was able to work while still shooting and taking that course. It was just a wonderful learning opportunity. That’s the best way to explain those first three months—I learned so much, not only as a student and as an athlete, but also as a working professional, slowly starting my career.”
Graduating in May 2026, he is now able to concentrate fully on his duties with the College. He also helps the shotgun program as an assistant coach while chasing his Olympic shooting dreams.
“I still want to compete in the Olympic disciplines,” said Fleck, who is focusing on international skeet. “I want to focus on this event at least until the 2028 Olympics and give it my all. Because once you stop, you fall off, and you don’t really get the opportunity to get back up there again. Right now, I’m shooting as much as I can, three or four times a week.”
An avid runner, Fleck recently competed in the Boston Marathon, and he and his fiancée, Megan, are getting married in October 2026.
“Hillsdale College has been, and continues to be, a guide as I develop personally and professionally into the man I want to become,” he said. “I am thankful for all the College has done for me, and I look forward to continuing to serve in this role.”
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s senior director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in August 2026