Team Henges members (from left) are Jacob Humphrey, Jesse Lewis, Aidan Kurrus, Andrew Butler, Andrew Lazarski, and Coach Mike Bolinger. This squad took first place in the Rookie Division, scoring 381 out of 500 targets.
The Team Henges Trapshooting Club hit their targets with a solid performance at the Missouri State Scholastic Clay Target Program Championship.
The event was held recently in Linn Creek. The trapshooting club is comprised of youth from the St. Louis area and represents the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Jay Henges Shooting Range.
Team Henges took first place in three of the five divisions at the competition. The squad also earned a second-place finish in another division. No other team placed in more than two divisions.
“Our 35 competitors were expected to do well,” Team Henges coach Jan Morris said. “They’ve placed in all four previous matches in which we’ve participated this year. Training pays off. Our coaching staff is very happy with the team’s performance. Our shooters who joined the program this year have shown rapid skill improvement in just five months.”
Moreover, several of the team’s shooters took individual overall awards, as well as achieving personal bests.
From the 12 shooting programs at the competition, there were 220 registered shooters. Team Henges took 35 shooters to the event.
Squad awards included:
• First Place Rookie Division, scoring 381 out of 500 targets. Team members were Aidan Kurrus, 11, of Kirkwood; Jake Humphrey, 11, of Sullivan; Andrew Butler, 11, of Ladue; and Jesse Lewis, 9, of Imperial; and Andrew Lazarski, of Crestwood.
“The rookie squad are in elementary grades three through five, and this is their first year of competition,” Morris said. “Winning a first place medal was a great confidence builder for them. They have a bright future.”
• First Place Intermediate Entry Division, scoring 898 out of 1,000 targets. Team members were Josh Taylor, 14, of Wildwood; Doug Williams, 13, of Wildwood; John Appelbaum, 13, of Webster Groves; Kramer Ennis, 11, of Fenton; and Nathan Stoner, 12, of Webster Groves.
“It’s also their first year of competition,” Morris said. “They are in grades six through eight. Now they are excited about working hard in preparation for the national competition in July.”
• First Place Intermediate Advanced Division, scoring 948 out of 1,000 targets. Team members were Matt Book, 14, of Crestwood; William Tihen, 14, of Washington; Ben Young, 12, of House Springs; Abbey Stoner, 14, of Webster Groves; and Bradley Cox, 14, of Wildwood. This squad has taken first place in the past five competitions this year.
“This squad of five has one or more years of shooting experience,” Morris said about the group of sixth- through eighth-graders. “They’ve won first place in all five matches in which they’ve participated this year. Female squad member, Abbey Stoner, is just as competent and enthusiastic about trapshooting as her male counterparts.”
• Second Place Junior Varsity Division, scoring 938 out of 1,000 targets. Team members were Max Weiser 14, of Town & Country; Kyle Lazarski, 15, of Crestwood; Cecilia Young, 15, of House Springs; Jack Lowrey, 15, of Ballwin; and Richard Kotva III, 15, of High Ridge.
Individual awards included:
• Cox, third overall in the Intermediate Advanced Division.
• Taylor, second overall in the Intermediate Entry Division.
• Kurrus, first overall in the Rookie Division.
• Humphrey, second overall in the Rookie Division.
Additionally, Jack Koury, 16, of Manchester, shot his first 100 straight targets; Cox shot his first 50, 75 and 100 straight targets; and Abbey Stoner shot her first 50 straight targets.
That was impressive shooting, Morris said.
“Two of our team members – Jack Koury and Brad Cox broke – 100 of 100 targets, setting personal best scores and earning their ’100 straight’ vest patches,” Morris said.
Shooting 25 straight targets for the first time were: Grant Strickland, 13, of High Ridge; Ryan Dintleman, 14, of Fenton; Taylor, Ennis, Nathan Stoner, Kurrus, Humphrey, and Nate Gross, 15, of Wildwood; and Paul Lochner, 17, of Town & Country.
“Shooting sports are lifetime sports, not gender specific, with emphasis placed on firearm safety,” Morris said. “The sport of trapshooting teaches life skills including setting personal goals, mental preparation, responsibility, sportsmanship and teamwork.”