Trap shooting team preps for first competition on Saturday

     More than 20 athletes have joined Grain Valley High School's newly formed trap shooting team, and they will have their first taste of competition Saturday at the Lake Lotawana Sportsmens Club. Nearly 200 competitors from several area schools are planned to participate in what will be Grain Valley's first trap shooting competition.
     Head coach Matt Albertson is thrilled with his team's work thus far and is excited to see them in competition. 
     Albertson, a Grain Valley resident, is a volunteer coach for the team whose own experience as a member of Blue Springs South's trap team when he was in high school drove him to become involved.
     "This meant an awful lot to me as a high school student. I tried my hand at competitive shooting a few years ago, and I've always been passionate about it, and wanted to apply that to the new team here," Albertson said. 
     Albertson said the students have been looking forward to the opportunity as well.
     "This is something they've been asking about for so long, so to see this come to fruition is amazing. To be part of it is even better, so I'm pretty thrilled we're even out here."
     "We have some athletes who are experienced, and we have some who are first-time trap shooters. It's pretty neat to see those kids develop and catch up with the more experienced teammates," Albertson said.
     The team has been practicing every Friday afternoon in Lake Lotawana, where they will compete Saturday. Shooters will compete in four 25-shot rounds for 100 rounds total, competing for individual scores and as a team. The ability to compete as a team is an exciting prospect after right at two months of practice together.
​     Nolan Seyfert, junior, is one of the team's captains.
     "So far, we've had a lot of people show out which is really good. I'm just looking forward to the experience of competing," Seyfert said.
     Seyfert has been shooting for many years recreationally, but this is his first foray into competition. He says the most challenging part of trap shooting is "dealing with the wind, for sure. You never know how it's going to affect things, and you have to adjust quickly."
     Aiden Russell, freshman, is also a captain on the team. He is clear on his goals for the first competition. 
      "I'm looking forward to winning," Russell said. "It means a lot to us that we have the chance to get out there more, and get to more competitions."
     Russell encourages other students who have an interest to try the sport.
    "It allows you to get out and interact with a lot of new people, learn a lot of new stuff, and it's just fun," Russell said.
     Teammate Collin Burd, junior, is also grateful for the opportunity to compete as a team. 
     "I've done some pheasant hunting, but I've never done anything like this. I'm hoping to do my best and shoot well. I don't have any set goals. I'm just excited to see what it is about," Burd said.

(Left to right) Nolan Seyfert, Aiden Russell, and Collin Burd look forward to the trap team's first competition on Saturday at Lake Lotawana Sportsmens Club. Photo credit: Valley News staff

Matt Albertson, head coach of the newly formed GVHS trap shooting team, works with students on Friday afternoon as they prepare for their first competition Saturday.
Photo credit: Valley News staff