TRAP SH OTING GBHS Trap Club’s marksmen take their shot at victory

BY RYAN KIM rkim.gazette@gmail.com

mong the various teams, clubs, and sports that GBHS currently has, one of the lesser known is the trap team. While technically referred to as the Sportsman Club, the team takes part in trap shooting every year, and has over 20 actively participating members.

Though trap might be seen as a more obscure sport to some, the members take pride in their skill and abilities.

“There’s definitely some really, really strong shooters, and we have a lot of fun with it, which is why I keep coming back; I just love the community and hanging out with friends,” Vice President Kelly Ben-

Aner said. “It’s not a super physical sport, and that’s why I like it so much…The mental aspect is my favorite part.”

The season takes place every spring, and players have practice twice a week: on Mondays the team goes to Coon Creek, and on Thursdays they go to Auburn Trap Shooting Club. The 30 minute drive both ways means that the members must devote a considerable amount of time towards the team, while maintaining a consistent and efficient practice method and schedule.

“When you’re up practicing or in a tournament, you just have to keep your mind steady,” senior Lorenzo Flores said. “You can’t get ahead of yourself, you have to think about each target individually because if you don’t, you’ll get distracted and you won’t perform as well.”

Despite the success that the team has had over the past few years as the Sportsman Club, it is a common criticism that the sport is too dangerous, regarding the use of firearms, especially when in the hands of high school students.

“Everyone is being safe out there. Nobody’s ever gotten hurt, not even a minor injury,” Flores said. “Everybody’s learning how to handle a firearm safely, and there’s no sense of danger at all around any of the people when they’re shooting.”

Despite any complications that the team has gone through, and though some may look upon the club negatively, the members of the GB trap team maintain that they take precautions when it comes to any part of the sport, and that anyone should have the opportunity to join the club, no matter the skill level.