In our third year, the Prairie Central High School Trap Team participating in the Illinois High School Clay Target League had a great season. Dalton Breedon, Hunter Robinson, and Storm Gerdes were named to the All-State Team. The team collectively finished second in their conference with Kayleigh Powell placing 3rd for Varsity Females in our conference. The team really put a lot of effort forward to have 11 of 19 compete at the Varsity level and be invited to compete in the inaugural National Championship at Michigan’s MTA Homegrounds July 12-15th. We are sending our top 5 shooters in average and two alternates to the event! All 7 will compete in the individual event as well!
During the winter months, the team held a fundraising raffle of Winchester Products(gun, shells, hats) that with help from Prairie Central Sportsman’s Club and Livingston County Pheasants Forever was able to raise $3900! The proceeds were halved, $2000 went to the program costs and the remaining money will be used to develop a second trap field at Prairie Central Sportsman’s Club to better handle the needs of the growing youth program. Livingston County Pheasants Forever also submitted a $500 grant that helped with the cost of shells.
Prairie Central Sportsman’s Club was the hosting range for the 2018 Season with all team members shooting 50 targets per week in the first 4 weeks, then 100 per week in the following 5 weeks. Scores just kept getting better with more practice as the weeks went by. At the end of the 9 weeks, 11 of our 19 students had a 19 or better average out of 25 which received the Varsity Classification!
Onto the State Tournament, 18 of the students made the trip to Brittany Shooting Park in Bunker Hill IL on June 2rd . The weather was overcast hazy and threatening thunderstorms with varying winds, with a storm cell that actually suspended shooting for about an hour! Not a good a day for trapshooting. The team finished the day in 13th place out of the 26 High Schools participating with a 441/500. Unfortunately, none of our team received individual awards at the tournament. The Team was briefed after the tournament of the Invitation to the National Championship, everyone was very excited!
We would like to extend our gratitude to all the students, parents, PCHS Administration, Principal Brad Beyers, Prairie Central Sportsman’s Club, Livingston County Pheasants Forever, Rick Allen-R & J Firearms, Richard Pearson-ISRA, Winchester Ammunition, White Flyer Targets, and coaches for once again a successful season!!
STATE TOURNAMENT TOP 5
DALTON BREEDON 93/100
ERIC EDELMAN 90/100
CALEB EMBRY 87/100
KAYLEIGH POWELL 86/100
STORM GERDES 85/100
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
DALTON BREEDON
HUNTER ROBINSON
STORM GERDES
ERIC EDELMAN
HARRISON IFFT
KAYLEIGH POWELL
IVAN JOHNSON