While a week ago, the Clipper trap team shot in hot temps and a tailwind, on Wednesday, the first day of regular competition, it was back to a chill escorted by a strong headwind that, together, made connecting with clays more than the usual challenge.
So, the average (mean) score was down over three and a half points to 29.5 from reserve week. Eleven of the 41 who competed on Wednesday had a better score than they had seven days earlier with two having the same score.
“The birds are climbing up really high today and superfast,” said coach Brandon Ellickson (watching the shooters above). “A lot of kids are shooting underneath. The cold doesn’t help either.”
Still, many of the Clippers posted solid numbers.
Noah Hermel led the Clippers with a 44. Kaden Schmidt and Nathan Seeman each shot down 43 clay discs. Jake Mueller, just a sixth grader, had another good week, this time with a 42. Riley Kriha also scored a 42, and Judd Gibbs turned in a 41.
With 40s were Nick Simonette, Gabe Sullivan, Marty Gibbs and Chase Bock. Tanyon Hoheisel posted a 38, the same score he had a week ago. Dakota Alitz, Reid Knish, Max Esser and John Ritchie all had 37s.
Ritchie, a sixth grader, had far and away the biggest improvement over reserve week, hitting 22 more targets.
Mason Kluntz shot down 34 clays. Tanner Simonette, Blake Gibbs and Henry Boelter all scored a 32. Brunson Gibbs had a 31.
Aiden Giese broke up 28 targets, and Derek Miller shot down 27 as did Cole Stocker. With 26s were Dylan Zimmerman, Gauge Bock and Charlie Maxfield. Kayla Bauer hit half of the 50 targets. Austin Anderley and Adam Seeman each had a 23, Jarret Thoms and Greyson Tomaszewski each had a 22, and Jeremy Miller, Caleb Possin and Urijah Hoheisel each had a 21.
Kendra Zimmerman turned in a 20. Zayden Linder had a 19. Colton Tousley and Alex Johnson each shot a 17. Abigail Osness scored a 14, Marshall Heldberg shot a 13, and Zander Hoechst hit a dozen targets.
Sophomore Riley Kriha fought through the wind and cold to only miss eight targets, three better than a week ago.
Improving his score by four over reserve week, Freshman Judd Gibbs scored a 41.
Eighth grader Chase Bock improved by five clays for a 40.
Martin Gibbs scored a 40.
Sixth grader John Ritchie upped his score from 15 to 37.
Eighth grader Henry Boelter shot a 32.
Seventh grader Aiden Giese scored a 28.
Junior Derek Miller scored a 27.;