Season Opener for the HS Clay Target Team - Ups and Downs

[M.D. Holloway]

Past weekend was the season opener for Texas competitive shooting for the high schools. My son's team came in as state champions 2016 so plenty of teams were 'gunning' for them. This competition was just trap which happens to be his worst event. He does well in skeet but he does really well in sporting clays. Trap shooting is technical and very 'robotic'. Its slower paced then skeet and not as varied as sporting clays. Personally I think it is the easiest of the 3 - Max isn't a fan but he shoots it because its part of the competition. Thats him shooting...



He ended up with a score of 90 out of 100 and placed him 10th overall out of varsity 179 shooters. That's his personal best. Of the 10 he missed, he reviewed the tapes and knew exactly what he did wrong - all cadence. He rush those and comparing to all the others that was the only tell tale. He scored the highest on this team.


At the end, the team was tied for second overall with Texas Christian Academy. They add up the top 5 scored from each team. Their hometown rival Coppell took 1st by 13 clays. If we hit just one more or TCA missed 1 we would have had second place. So now we were in a shoot off.

They take the top 5 shooters whose scores were used and they each shoot 2 clays. If all 10 shooters hit, they start over again but move the line back 10 yards and do it over again.

The team didn't know there was going to be a shoot off. Team members are instructed not to leave until awards have been handed out in case of a shoot off but in our case, 2 of the shooters had to go to work and the other one had a thing with his family. We were down 3 shooters. No subs allowed. Max and the other kid killed their clays but so did the others team and other 'no-shows' were lost bird. We took 3rd. .

Most of the teamates had gone home by the time awards were handed out. The coaches were frustrated that so many left and I am sure they will all here about it next practice. This is not a bad thing. The team was getting a bit cocky.




I talked to him a little before the shoot off. He said, 'so really unless 3 of their shooters miss all the clays there is really no way we can get this huh?' Nope. Sorry dude.

While he was disappointed that the other shooters had to leave, he did say to the teammates that were still around 'hay, with out them we would not even have had 3rd. It beats 4th."

After every competition the team has a team dinner. One of the kids dads happened to be talking to Max earlier that week. He commented on Max's car - the G35 saying he used to own one. That night he gave Max this for no other reason then 'Max, you are a car guy, I think you will like this."



Its a paddle shifter for the Infinity. A very nice gift. Max wanted to install it today - ya, I don't think so buddy!

Next week is Sporting Clays. Lets see if we can get back some of the magic! States and nationals are in June. Its going to be here before we know it.

[berettafan]

So neat for a school to have this.

Tell him fooey on trap, that's for bitter old men who can't swing a gun and stack pillows on their shoulders!

The real question is who would kill the most birds in a dove field?


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[Buckterrier]

I remember when you posted about Max's shooting last year. Good job! Odd though you say trap shooting is the slowest of the 3 disciplines. Around these parts trap is shot very fast and to me the easiest also.
I'm on a winter skeet league. Some interesting matches! If you've been following the weather in the northeast you'd know what I mean. The bylaws state no match is canceled unless the govna shuts down the highways. Tough on the averages but they don't count towards NSSA registered shoots. But it certainly is fun. Good luck to Max and his team.

[M.D. Holloway]

Well, I guess slow isn't the best description rather methodical. Actually they do hit them at a good clip. Some do exceptionally well at it. I'm glad he is getting decent scores in it. I told him if he can get mid 90s in trap, skeet, and sporting clays he could get an Iron Man award.

They shoot in all weather as well - unless its lightning they shoot. Last year at this same opener he shot in 30 degree sleet. Regionals last year it was 108. Yikes.

[Buckterrier]

108F I'd be done. Lots & lots of water.