Todd and Michelle Woitzel have done nearly everything together since they first started dating at age 14. From moving out of their native North Dakota to raising four children, the pair have been inseparable from the start.
“Our youngest is 23 and is getting married this year. That’s it—last one is off the payroll!” Todd quipped, before continuing to brag about the family he and his wife have built. “We also have five grandchildren—newborn twins this year!”
The pair is rightfully proud of their brood, but with the entire team grown and gone, the Woitzels needed a new focus. Something to keep them young, strong, and…sharp.
“Michelle doesn’t like golf,” Todd said, by way of explanation. “So when an indoor gun club opened up near us back in 2016, we started casually shooting. We met some people who were doing a shooting class there, and they walked us through it and made sure we really knew what we were doing. Seven years later, we’re more into it than ever.”
The “it” in question are the two specific shooting disciplines Todd and Michelle practice. Their main events are a “Steel Challenge,” which is “Speed Shooting,” and “Action Shooting,” which has the competitor shooting around walls and obstacles on a closed course.
“We use 22 caliber pistols and rifles for ‘Speed Shooting’ and our own custom built 9mm pistols for ‘Action Shooting,’” Todd said before clarifying, “You don’t need custom guns or expensive equipment to be part of this sport. You can even borrow equipment if you’re not ready to buy. You don’t have to invest heavily to become proficient. The great thing about this sport is that it really is open to everyone.”
“Speed shooting is an especially great sport for beginners because the people are so friendly and welcoming,” Michelle added. “A lot of people, specifically women, are a little timid getting into the sport. They’re worried they won’t be good at it or that people will judge them. But even law enforcement and military personnel are coming in to practice. There isn’t any judgement, as long as you’re being safe, following the rules, and are ready to improve. We are always so excited to see new people coming in, especially when we have women and junior competitors helping open that door.”
The rules are concise, but rigidly adhered to by all participants.
“If you break the rules of the range, you sit out,” Todd said. “It doesn’t matter what license or permit you have. You don’t walk in here with a loaded weapon. Loaded weapons are only allowed inside the shooting box. If you break a rule, you’re disqualified, and you sit out. Safety is the absolute number one priority.”
The pair do more than compete and promote the sport they’ve come to love so much; they’ve become Grand Masters, Match Officials, and event organizers in the area.
“Todd is President of the Eastern Nebraska Gun Club in Louisville, and runs the Cornhusker Steel Challenge every year,” Michelle said. “I do stats, and Todd is a match director now. We run and organize matches and put a lot of effort into creating really great events, because we are hosting really great people! There are events for absolutely everyone, like shooting skeet or trap if speed or action events aren’t for you.”
“We were both athletes in the past, but as you get older and the mind is still willing and eager, the body isn’t always able to keep up with some types of sports,” Todd added. “These days we are really in it for fun, and for the opportunity to meet and interact with the community. A lot of our best friends are people we met through shooting.”
One such friend is author, shooting coach, and host of the Shoot Fast Podcast, Joel Park.
“You really do meet the most incredible people in this practice,” Park said. “I’ve trained special forces and government officials from different branches. I’m a computer nerd teaching professional killers to improve their shooting. You’ll hear the most amazing life stories from people you wouldn’t have come in contact with outside of this club.
“I’ve known Todd and Michelle for probably 10 years through shooting matches at the gun club,” Park continued. “Through weekend practices, events, and shooting matches you start to see some of the same faces. You quickly become a community with these people who have similar specialties and interests. Todd is extremely brilliant at the logistics of it all—organizing matches, seeing potential issues before they even happen, arranging staffing. It’s a no-brainer to have Todd in charge of these events.”
The jovial pair may win awards for their deadly accuracy, but their real target has more to do with creating a warm, welcoming environment for their community to grow, learn, and connect.
For more information about the Eastern Nebraska Gun Club, visit engc.us.
This article originally appeared in the May 2024 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
