Meeting set for March 10
By Holly Neumann
A new trap shooting club is coming to the Iola-Scandinavia School District.
The club will be offered for the first time to students in grades 6-12 that have a hunter’s education certificate.
An informational meeting regarding the club will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at the Iola Conservation Club, 7721 County Trunk J, Iola. There is a deadline of Friday, March 22, to be registered with the USA Clay Target League.
“This will allow students that may or may not play traditional sports to enjoy a sport that involves competition not only as an individual, but also as a team,” said Peter Bruno, the team’s coach. “This is also a sport that can be participated in long after the students are done with high school. I have witnessed adults shoot well into their 80s.”
Athletes shoot at clay targets released from a machine in a sport of accuracy and timing.
Students will learn the safe handling of firearms and the fundamentals of trap while having fun in a team environment.
Practices will begin at the ICC Sunday, March 31, and wrap up May 28 with a fun shoot.
“We will have a nonshooting practice before March 31 to go over safety and some of the procedural items around trapshooting,” Bruno said. “We then have two weeks of practice rounds and five weeks of competition. We do not travel, but compete against a division made up of schools with similar-size teams.”
There are tournament and national qualifying tournaments.
“Team members will need to have their own shotgun,” Bruno said. “However, the ICC may be able to provide some loaner guns if a student does not have their own. This will be handled through the ICC on a need basis.”
The cost include a $35 registration fee for the USA Clay Target League; a $35 shooting fee; a shell price of $110 to $130; and $25 to $50 for an optional shell pouch or vest.
The Iola Conservation Club will potentially donate money to offset these costs for all students.
Interested parties are encouraged to visit the USA Clay Target League website, http://wiclaytarget.com/, or call Bruno at 920-915-6618 for more information.