WASHBURN, Mo. — The Southwest Trap team, of Washburn, Mo., traveled to the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, Ill., to compete Aug. 8 and 9 at the National Trapshooting Championship. The High School and Junior High teams joined approximately 900 other shooters from across the nation to compete in this event.
The High School squad of Charly Phillips (196/200), Matthew Snyder (196/200), Brittany Wright (191/200), Tyler Wallace (198/200) and Alan McNabb (198/200) shot a cumulative score of 979/1000 to outdistance the Oak Creek trap team from Lincoln, Neb., by four targets. The Southwest Trap Team competed against 88 other junior divisions.
The team put up a great number in the first round on Saturday, Aug. 8, by shooting 492/500, and came back Sunday, Aug. 9, with a solid performance of 487/500.
"It's impressive to watch a group of shooter's only drop eight targets out of 500, I don't care if it's high school or a team of Olympic shooters, that's doing some shooting," coach Mike Vining said.
"We were in the same position last year after the first round, and came out too tense the second day. I really feel that the experience they went through last year really helped them keep their focus and composure at this year's tournament. It was theirs to win after the first day, and they stepped up and sealed the deal on Sunday," he said.
Also competing in the High School Division for individual honors were Dustin Swigart and Ty Hacket.
The National competition is sponsored by the Amateur Trapshooting Association and the Youth AIM (Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship) program.
School, Pages 8 on 09/16/2009