MUSCATINE, Iowa–Since its founding, the Wilton Trap Team has grown tremendously, with 43 members from Durant, Louisa-Muscatine, Muscatine, Tipton, West Liberty, and Wilton Community School Districts all developing their shooting skills and competing at tournaments across the region. This year, members ranging in age from fifth graders to seniors in high school, shot at state, distinguishing themselves among the approximately 4,000 students competing.

In trap shooting, students can compete in three different events. In singles, they shoot at individual clay pigeons from 16 yards away. In doubles, they shoot at two clay pigeons fired at once from different places, also at 16 yards. In handicap, students shoot a single clay pigeon from 19, 21, or 25 yards away, depending on their level of competition. In addition to doing each event solo, students can compete in groups too.

Unlike sports like football or softball, the Scholastic Clay Target Program does not place schools into classes based on their size, meaning all students in the same division compete against each other. With that in mind, Head Coach Mark Henning found it particularly impressive that varsity, junior varsity, intermediate, and rookie members all placed in the top three of their events. “They did phenomenal!” he observed.

The Wilton Trap Team at the State Championship. Photo courtesy of the Wilton Trap Team.

Wilton Trap Team State Championship event results:

Varsity:

• Lodden Axtel (All-state)
  • Singles: third-place individual, third-place squad
  • Doubles: third-place squad
  • Handicap: third-place individual, first-place squad, thrid-place team
• Evan Elder
  • Singles: thrid-place squad
  • Handicap: third-place team
• Cole Henning (High all around all-state)
  • Singles: third-place squad
  • Doubles: third-place squad
  • Handicap: first-place squad, third-place team
• Morgan Hodge (high all around, all-state)
  • Singles: thrid-place squad
  • Doubles: thrid-place squad
  • Handicap: second-place individual, first-place squad, third-place team

Junior varsity:

• Lexi Henning (high all around)
  • Doubles: third-place individual, third-place squad
  • Handicap: first-place individual, first-place squad, third-place team

Intermediate:

• Hunter Beason
  • Handicap: thrid-place squad
• Ethan Dorris
  • Handicap: first-place individual, third-place squad
• Emma Pulliam
  • Handicap: third-place squad
• Chloe Thornton
  • Handicap: third-place squad
• Gavin Wulf
  • Handicap: third-place squad

Rookie:

• Leni Wulf
  • Doubles: thrid-place individual
  • Handicap: third-place individual

Members of the Wilton Trap Team enjoyed traveling to Cedar Falls for this year’s state championship and the experience of shooting against many different competitors. Chloe Thornton, a ninth grader who has shot on the Wilton Trap Team for four years, considered the tournament’s highlights for herself, “definitely hitting 25 and spending time with the team and other people.” Clay pigeons get released in groups of 25 in trap shooting, and shooting 25 consecutively equals a perfect score in that segment.

Chloe’s brother, Connor Thornton, a seventh grader in his second year who placed second in team doubles for the league, appreciated, “being part of a squad that earned a trophy,” and “getting to shoot with my sister.”  Because of their age difference, Chloe and Connor will not get to shoot together as a squad again until her senior year and his sophomore year of high school, making the experience of placing together extra special.

Each year, the Wilton Trap team can have about 40 members. Though it always attracts many competitors, several seniors graduated this year, opening up spots for younger members. Connor encouraged new students to consider it because they can join without prior experience. Chole added that it builds a lifelong passion anyone can enjoy individually or with others. “It’s something that you can do for yourself, and it’s a team thing, so you can always enjoy doing it.”

.