Trap team sweeps state in first fall competition

The Sundance High School trap team swept the board at its first fall state event, ending the season ranked in first place. A sport that barely existed in Wyoming a year ago, clay target shooting is now beginning to spread to schools across the state – but it started right here, in Crook County.

“Our fall trap kids ended up taking first place for the fall season and we took first, second and third place and all-around also in individual scores,” says Coach Kyndell Flint.

Teagan Marchant took first place, top women’s shooter and top overall shooter; Parker Speidel took second place; and Silas Speidel took third place.

Eight kids participated in the season, which was the team’s first fall. The Sundance team was up against Upton and Wheatland in the state competition, Flint says.

It all began last spring, at which point Wyoming was not part of the USA High School Clay Target League.

“Wyoming never was a part of that, so I got three of our schools, Moorcroft, Sundance and Hulett and we ended up with Upton getting on board and Wheatland got on board,” Flint says.

“That’s when we had enough schools to get it going in the State of Wyoming.

Flint feels sure that the sport will continue to expand now the ball is rolling and the legwork to get it going in Wyoming has been done.

“I think you’ll see it take off. I think more and more schools will pick it up,” she nods.

“From the sounds of it, Gillette is going to have two teams this spring and it sounds like there are three or four other schools that are going to do it too.”

For kids who are interested in trying out the sport, the new season will begin shortly.

“We’re going to be doing registration and sign-ups probably at the end of February to start getting the kids sign up for spring,” Flint says.

Team members attend practice on Thursday and Sunday afternoons, depending on weather and number of kids. The team is open to sixth grade through 12th grade.

Equipment is necessary to take part, but Flint encourages kids to get in touch even if they aren’t sure they will be able to purchase what they need.

“We have a lot of people who are big supporters of the kids doing this, so if there’s a kid who would like to learn how to shoot and do this, we can usually find them some equipment to help out,” she says.

No travel is required to participate or to compete at the state level.

“The cool thing about this organization is that you actually put the kids’ scores in online. They compete against the rest of the schools at their home field,“ Flint says. Over the six weeks of the fall season, “Every week we would get together, they would shoot and we would put their scores in for how they did in that week”

Flint recommends the sport, particularly for kids who are unable to participate in more physical sports such as football and track. Trap shooting is great for hand-eye coordination, she says.

“The kids can letter in high school with it and get scholarships to go to college. There’s a girl in Belle Fourche who just graduated last year and got a four-year, full ride scholarship to the college she wanted to go to, to go shoot with them, with the option of an additional two years if she chooses to extend her college career out,” she says.

“It’s actually a great opportunity for these kids to be able to do something they enjoy doing and do something with it academically, too.”

The next step is to work on the facilities available to the kids. The Muley Fanatic Foundation Northwest Wyoming Chapter donated $3000 and a pellet grill last year to help get Hulett and Sundance off the ground, says Flint, and at this year’s banquet on February 8, one particular item will be auctioned specifically for the kids.

The aim of the fundraising is to expand the trap field and improve it, as the facility the kids work with now is “not the best”. Flint plans to approach the Wyoming Sportsmans’ Group in Gillette to see if funding assistance might be possible.

“If the community wants to step in and help raise some money, I think we’re looking at about $44,000 to do the upgrade on the facility we want,” she says.

To support the cause, Flint recommends attending the Muley Fanatic’s banquet on February 8 at the Crook County Fairgrounds; the trap team kids will be in attendance and willing to share their experiences of the sport, she adds. For more information about joining the trap team or to make a donation, contact Flint at 290-2040.