Local trap shooters flourish at state competition

It’s been a rewarding season for the local youth trap shooters.

The SEMO Trap Shooters recently competed in the Missouri AIM/ATA State Shoot at Missouri Trapshooters Association in Linn Creek, Missouri. During the competition, the SEMO Shooter brought home two squad awards and 11 individual awards, competing against over 1,600 other youth and adults.

“What they were able to do there was very impressive,” head coach Sandy Pike said about the team’s performance. “Originally, the competition was centered around the youth shooters, but we found out later it would feature all ages, but they handled it very well and did a great job competing.”

Having the kids get experience playing against older and more seasoned shooters is excellent for them, Pike said. She said they were respectful and enjoyed shooting with them. The older shooters gave advice and helped them throughout the competition, making for good camaraderie across all ages and spectrums.

The SEMO Shooters range from ages nine to 18 and hail from the surrounding areas of Poplar Bluff, Greenville, Naylor, Wappapello and Puxico. They have 23 kids who practice twice a week and compete in about seven to eight competitions yearly.

Trap shooting is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, according to Coach Pike, and Poplar Bluff has had a team for many years. Colleges are now offering scholarships for trap shooting, and the SEMO Shooters have already had one shooter sign up to shoot at Drury University.

Coach Pike said the team always seems to walk away with some awards and recognition for their hard work during each competition. This season is no different, as seven kids have been named to three different All-State teams this year based on their targets shots and averages.

Since Missouri high schools don’t recognize trap shooting as a sport yet and only as a club, Pike said it was required for the SEMO Shooters to go private to give their kids more opportunities.

“We went private so that we could offer it to all the kids in the surrounding area that wanted to shoot more than just FFA, which is usually two or three shoots a year,” Pike said. “We love coaching these kids, and the goal is to be able to give them the opportunity to be able to be part of the team and to get scholarships to help with college.

The team and sport are very family-oriented. The parents are involved, and we spend all summer together, where they make lasting friendships.”

The SEMO Trap Shooters will be back in action Saturday as they travel to Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Individuals:

Logan Hart - took home third place in the AIM Handicap and fourth place in the Missouri State ATA Handicap in the junior division after a shoot-off.

Truston Alexander - won the Handicap Sub-Jr Champion and the Missouri State ATA Handicap Sub-Jr In-State Champion.

Noah Innes - AIM Sub-Junior Singles - 4th Place winner, AIM Sub-Junior Doubles Runner Up and Sub-Junior 3rd place in Handicaps.

Alex Parson - AIM Pre-Sub Singles Champion, Handicap and Doubles Runner-Up.

Colton Nunn - AIM Pre-Sub Singles Runner-Up

Squads:

AIM Pre-Sub Champions: John Clausen, Kayden Smith, Tyler Gerdes, Colton Nunn and Alex Parson.

AIM Sub Juniors Champion - Truston Alexander, Noah Innes, Jack Wesemann, James Gambill and Cody Grobe.

AIM Yearly teams for 2023:

2023 AIM All-Star Team: Matthew Gilliam and Alex Parson

2023 AIM All-Zone Team: Southwestern - Logan Hart, Colton Nunn and Waylynn Slavings

2023 AIM All-State Team: Missouri - Tayler Hillis