Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief
The River Valley Trap Team shot it’s third competition of it’s five competition season this weekend, and is preparing to score a championship win next month.
“We are gunning for yet another conference championship and are looking forward to a great show at the state championship,” said Coach Tim Johnson. “The kids are shooting great with several already shooting 25 of 25 thus far.”
The students will head to the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association’s state championship June 12-13, where they will compete against 85 teams and 2,000 other students from around the state.
Johnson said he has high hopes the team will pull off a win at this year’s competition, which he believed the team could have pulled off last season, if COVID-19 had not cancelled the season.
In 2019, the team had at least one individual place second at the state championship.
The team is moving through the season with its largest team since its inception in 2016, with 59 total members shooting this season. Of those members, 14 are seniors. The team is open to River Valley students from 6th to 8th grade.
The team plans to host a variety of public and fundraising events throughout the spring and summer, which includes a Mentor Day, where team members can invite a friend or family member to the Spring Green Rod and Gun Club, where the team shoots, and educate them on the sport—acting as a mentor. The mentees will also be able to try out shooting.
“We asked the kids to think of someone to bring out and introduce them to the sport,” said Johnson. “It’s an idea to get more people involved and let the community know what we do.”
The mentor event will be 11 a.m. May 16, at the Spring Green Rod and Gun Club. Masks and social distancing are recommended.
The team will also be hosting a 50-bird shoot, which is open to the public June 6, to fundraise for the team. Johnson said the coaches try to reimburse students for the fee to attend the conference championship, or assist new members with startup costs.
From the fundraiser, each student received approximately $76, which covers the cost of the clay pigeons they use throughout the season.
Informational posters will be shared throughout River Valley Schools in Fall and Spring for those interested in joining the team.