MPRC was founded as Michigan Precision Rifle Steel Challenge in 2019 by Nate Whitehead as a PRS sanctioned Regional Series Club.  Through the years, it’s grown to nearly twice in size, went through a re-branding and name change, and now has a very well established member base, to which our close-knit community originates.

Nate, the Director of MPRC got his start in the precision rifle discipline in 2009 thanks to his career in the Army.  Very quickly, Nate got his friend from adolescence, Ken Wheeler into precision rifles- Ken subsequently got into shooting local outlaw matches, convincing Nate to attend his first competition in 2017, placing 7th in the Michigan Guardian Long Range Rifle Competition.

In 2018, Ken took over Wisconsin Precision Rifle Steel Challenge (WPRSC would rebrand, dropping the “steel” part of the name at the same time as MPRC).  Nate managed to attend all but perhaps one match that year in WI, put in a fair bit of time assisting in set-up, matchbook writing and printing, and recruiting sponsors for the season finale.

In late summer of 2018, Nate and Ken shot the Michigan Guardian competition again.  At some point, Ken was talking to one of the owners of Marksmanship Training Center, and suggested Nate should run PRS matches there (before even asking if Nate was interested).  And so the origin of MPRC began.

Very quickly, a good friend from Nate’s days in the Army volunteered to assist.  Russ Ciaramella proved invaluable as an assistant MD, helping with nearly every match the first four years; including two very labor intensive two day Pro-Series matches and a Regional Series Finale.  Without his assistance, MPRC would have never gotten off the ground!

That first year in 2019 the opening match had an attendance of 36 competitors.  We ended the season with 34 competitors at the 2019 Finale and a season average turnout of 35 competitors per match.

Over the years since our first season, we’ve reinvested continuously to enhance the match experience.  More targets, AR500 target posts, shot timers, a loaner rifle, loaner spotting optics, a three unit shipping container shooting structure, moving target systems, and much more!

We’ve refined everything from our set-up strategies and COF to our equipment storage and matchbook.  As a result of our focus on providing the best match our primary facility can provide, we increased our annual average match attendance to 66.5 competitors per match in 2024.

In 2023, Russ’s growing family and changing work schedule required him to dial back his time commitments.  At which point, Nate found himself relying heavily on Caycee Kujawski for match set-up.  In July of 2024, she ran her first match, giving Nate some much needed time with family.  At the finale that same year we announced her taking on the role of Assistant Match Director.

MPRC has grown to be a close community of competitors, many of whom showing up more for fun than actual competition.  All are welcome with open arms.  If you find yourself at our venue on the Friday before a match, feel free to introduce yourself, or stop by the match HQ at the large 5th Wheel travel trailer parked by the gate!