A Weekend to Remember: Caesar Guerini Finale Recap

If you were at Bald Mountain this past weekend, you already know—the Caesar Guerini Finale was one for the books. It wasn’t just the final stop of the 2025 Lieske Signature Series, it was the mic-drop moment that closed out the season with energy, record attendance, and a whole lot of smiles!

Record Numbers, Fresh Faces

314 shooters showed up to throw down on August 23–24, 2025. That’s the biggest turnout we’ve seen in Michigan since the 2017 U.S. FITASC Grand Prix—nearly a decade ago! What’s even cooler? Sixty-eight of those shooters were brand-new faces who literally joined the NSCA on the spot, thanks to the Series’ easygoing, approachable vibe and the NSCA’s free membership offer.

And this wasn’t just a one-time thing. Across the four stops of the 2025 Series, more than 315 shooters made their NSCA debut—and half of them have already come back for more!

Welcome Bags, Door Prizes & Backyard Vibes

From the moment shooters checked in, the weekend had that perfect balance of “first-class experience with backyard charm.” Registration felt warm and welcoming, and the goodie bags didn’t disappoint—Caesar Guerini Finale t-shirt, shooter’s towel (courtesy of Orion Outdoors Company), maps, and yes… plenty of chances at door prizes. More than 100 shooters walked away with gear before they even pulled the trigger—everything from Fiocchi shells to Caesar Guerini swag.

Food and atmosphere hit just right too: Detroit Wing Company brought the flavor on Saturday, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill handled Sunday, and Mo from The Cigar Den gave anyone curious a crash course in cigar culture.

Two Courses, Two Personalities

This Series has really carved out its niche with the dual-course format:

• Easy-80: 291 shooters dove into the themed fun. Think Top Gun blaring while high-speed clays ripped across the sky, leis and palm trees at Lei’d & Loaded, turkey calls at Beards & Spurs, and high-flying roosters at Pheasant Phrenzy. It was part competition, part carnival—and everyone loved it.
• Elite-80: 183 shooters put their game faces on. Pat Lieske set it up championship-style, and it demanded every ounce of focus. No trick targets—just the kind that test skill, patience, and grit.

Side Games, Showdowns & Winners

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Lieske Series weekend without Make-A-Break heating things up. Sun shining, payouts flowing—it stayed packed all weekend. The leaderboard shifted constantly, but shooters walked away with both bragging rights and some solid cash.

And then came the crown. HOA honors went to Adam Wise (Birmingham, MI) and Jordan Hintz (Hillsdale, MI), both shooting an incredible 149/160. They split the top prize and left no doubt about their place at the top of the game. The full leaderboard was stacked up as follows:

Master Class: Matthew Houtteman (2nd), David Texas Ardis (3rd)
AA Class: Jonathan Vergara (1st), Peter Humphreys (2nd), Leif Andersen (3rd)
A Class: Jordan Sapp (1st), Kyle Fleck (2nd), Chet Brown (3rd)
B Class: Chris Schultz (1st), Alex Hoffman (2nd), Nathaniel Meloro (3rd)
C Class: Abigail Knowlton (1st), James Falconer (2nd), Joe Kulka (3rd)
D Class: Julio Garcia (1st), Reese Morris (2nd), Daryl Belding (3rd)

Gun Winners

At each Lieske Series event, we give away two guns. The first is randomly selected from the Golden Tickets. Shooters earn an entry into this raffle by crushing all 8 of the targets at the Golden Ticket station on the Easy 80 course. David Svilar of Ypsilanti, MI is the lucky winner from the Caesar Guerini Finale! David can claim his Tristar Viper 20 gauge shotgun with Orion Outdoors Company!

The second gun is a Fabarm L4S Hunter 12 gauge shotgun, worth $1,675. The top two scores and ties from each NSCA class in the Easy 80 event are entered into this drawing. The lucky winner drawn by digital wheel was Chet Brown of Grand Blanc, MI!  

Looking Ahead

So where does this momentum go? Straight into 2026. Michigan Shooting Centers is already fine-tuning next year’s Series, with the same goal in mind: making tournaments more fun, more welcoming, and more exciting for everyone—from the weekend hobbyist to the seasoned competitor.

Huge Thanks

None of this would have happened without the sponsors who keep pushing the sport forward—Caesar Guerini, Fiocchi Ammunition, White Flyer Targets, and Orion Outdoors Company. Their support has made this Series more than just a set of shoots. It’s become a movement.

And trust us—it’s only just getting started.