Published: July 16, 2008 03:32 pm            

The longest — and sweetest — day

By GARY NELSON

Head coach, Fox Fire Trap Shooting Team

It started with a 6:30 a.m. bus departure. We had planned on shooting a practice round, but there wasn’t time when we arrived.

After arriving and getting ready the shoot began. The wind was very tough and lowered everyone’s score. The first team consisting of Dirk Lowery, Levi Hybbert, Lee Donellson, Derrek (Ross) Welch and Mat Owen got off to rocky start.

It seemed that they just couldn’t pick it up with the wind. Dirk posted 2-25 straights which led them to fourth place, but there is no trophy for fourth.

The second team (the little team that wasn’t supposed to win) got off to even a rockier start, but not all that bad.

The team consisted of: Jordan Brown (squad leader), Logan Karcher, Caleb Miller, Zachery Miller and Jeseph Rush.

As squad leader Jordan started them off with a 25 straight, Logan and Caleb struggled on station 1 & 2. After the first round, I told them it was OK to miss, just do the coach a favor and miss in front of the birds. That did the job and increased their lead and started smashing them.

At the end of the first 100 birds, I told them they could go ahead of the first team if they could just break a few more birds. Jordan responded, “OK coach!” and walked to the line and smashed another 25 straight.

When the smoke cleared from the second 100, they had outshot the first team by two birds.

When listening to the announcements and it came to the junior varsity division, they announced the third place stating, “This is a brand new team,” I knew it was Fox Fire Trap. The second team had won third in state. This placed the first team in fourth place by two birds.

What a wonderful day. We will be entering a team in the nationals, and these guys will have another chance to show us what they are made of.

The last thing I said to both teams was: “Go out there and show them what you are made of.”

We will be having practice every Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Carmi Trap Range, and the public is invited to come watch. Show your support by coming to their practice.

The nationals will be Aug. 4 and 5. We will be having three more shoots at Sparta on Sept. 13, Oct. 11 and Nov. 8.

Practice will continue until after the last shoot, at which time we will take a break and look for more shooters. The ones already shooting will be varsity shooters next season.

We will be having fundraisers to help defer the cost of shooting and will be asking every one for help. Our tentative budget will be over $8,000.

These kids have shown you what they are made of, and I ask for everyone to support them.

        

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