The Lewis County Trap Team have proven themselves a force to be reckoned at the Nashville Gun Club during the SCTP Regional Competition last weekend. Not only did Lewis County place in the top five in nearly every Trap division, but several of the individual shooters placed as well. Some waited until 9:30 and 11:00 at night in hopes to win a shoot-off against others who scored the same.

The first image that comes to mind after hearing about a sporting clay event is most likely trap. Trap is where a team of five shooters or less stand behind a machine, located front and center, that throws orange clay targets into the air in different directions. Shooters then take their turns aiming and shooting at the target. They shoot a total of 100 times and the number of targets hit is recorded for their team and individual scores.

Lewis County had 27 kids participate in their trap event in all five divisions. The Lewis County Senior/Varsity team made their coaches proud by winning First Place as a squad, and Second Place as a team. They competed against 35 teams and 26 squads. As a team, they were beaten by Middle Tennessee Christian who had only two more targets than them. This team consisted of Mercie Ashmore, Clay Bean, Daniel Burcham, Chase Carroll, and Zoie Clark.

The Senior/Jr. Varsity placed Fourth as a squad with Mahaley Bean, K.C. Braun, Lucas Duncan, Tuff Lindsey and Ryan Tanner shooting.

The Intermediate/Advanced team continued the streak by placing Second as a squad and Third as a team. This team consisted of Spencer Clark, Casen Himes, Emery Norris, Xavier Shook and Gavin Smith.

The Intermediate/Entry Level team came in Third place as a squad and Fourth as a team with Ayden Brangard, Lane Gobbell, Liam Holt, Aiden Johnston and Caleb Moon shooting. Even though they didn't place, these Intermediate/Entry Level shooters still did an amazing job; Daniel Hibbitts, Andie Starcher, Tony Trogdon and Emerick Webster.

Even the Rookies took home a medal by placing Third as a squad with Michael Lyons, Gabriel Shook and Jonah Selman shooting.

Once all teams had shot, sunset already came and went as individual shooters got ready for a shoot-off, and other individual scores were announced. Clark placed First in Ladies Senior Varsity with 98/100, Tanner placed Second in Mens Senior/Junior Varsity with 96/100, first-year shooter Braun placed Fourth in Ladies Senior/Junior Varsity with 91/100, Norris placed Fourth in Ladies Intermediate/Advanced with 92/100. Ashmore and Lindsey had tied for Second and Third place, which meant they had to wait for a shoot-off.

The folks at the Nashville Gun Club turned on their stadium lights. Ashmore and Lindsey were finally welcomed to the field around 9:30 that night where Ashmore won Second in Ladies Senior Varsity with 97/100, and Lindsey placed Fourth in Mens Senior/Junior Varsity with 95/100.

Skeet Competition

In skeet shooting, the goal is to hit two clay targets that are crossing one another. Two target machines are placed 40 meters apart, one at 10 feet high (known as the high house) and one at 3.5 feet high (known as the low house). Both targets rise to a maximum height of 15 feet by the time they reach the field's center. Shooters aim from seven positions on a semi-circular field, with each shooter firing a total of 100 rounds.

Shooters at Lewis County do not practice skeet shooting often, but even in light of that, Clark managed to place Fifth with a score of 92/100, and Norris placed Sixth with a score of 67/100. The others who shot were Spencer Clark and Burcham

Sporting Clays

In addition to trap and skeet, sporting clays is a third popular shotgun shooting discipline. This discipline is often referred to as "golf with a shotgun" because it involves shooting on a scenic course, with no two courses alike. The target's speed, angle and distance vary with each station. Because of the varying terrain and random nature of the targets, this version is considered one of the most realistic bird hunting simulations which each shooting discipline is modeled to mimic.

Like Skeet, Lewis County shooters don't get to practice the discipline all too often but with that being said, Lindsey came in First place with a score of 84/100. Placing in the top ten, within their own divisions, was Norris, placing Seventh, with a score of 53/100 and Zoie Clark, placing Eighth, with a score of 73/100.

Katelin Carroll

Tuff Lindsey looking back at his dad after shooting 25 straight

All in all, the Lewis County Trap team has given their coaches, family and friends a lot to look forward to in the coming competitions including the State Championship, held in Nashville, and the National Championship, held in Marengo, Ohio.