Shooting trainers improve trap team shot accuracy

While shotguns have been around for centuries, with five trapshooting trainers, cutting edge electronic devices that analyze shot position relative to the clay target, the Clipper trap team has gone high tech.

Set up beside the shooters, the trainers also provide insight into the shooter’s performance by reporting reaction time and clay distance to help improve accuracy. Feedback is immediate.

“If you are three feet behind, they will tell you,” said head coach Brandon Ellickson. “They help out quite a bit.”

The team purchased one trainer two years ago and really liked it, so they bought four more last year in order to have one “full house” (group of five shooters) with them, Ellickson said. Only developed within the last few years, the trainers cost $1000 each.

While the trainers helped on Wednesday, a strong wind that blew across the Caribou Gun Club range made hitting the birds a little harder, Ellickson said. The average score, 30.3, was down a fraction from a week ago.

With two rounds of 23 for his best score of the season, Judd Gibbs was the top shooter. With a 44, Jake Mueller finally broke a string of 43s. Noah Hermel shot a 41. Brunson Gibbs knocked down 40 discs, 10 more than a week ago.

Gauge Bock and Kaden Schmidt each shot a 39. Urijah Hoheisel, Reid Knish, Blake Stocker, Cole Stocker and Gabe Sullivan all posted 38s. It was Hoheisel’s season best.

Improving by 11 from last Wednesday, Blake Gibbs shot a season best 37.

Derek Miller disintegrated 36 targets. Adam Seeman and Dylan Zimmerman each grounded 34. With a 33, her season best, Kendra Zimmerman was the top female shooter. Her increase of 16 over her last week’s score represented the Clippers’ biggest improvement.

Also with 33s were Tony Hollerich and Colton Tousley. Austin Anderley and John Ritchie each scored a 32. With 29s were Marshall Heldberg, Charlie Maxfield, Nolan Schlaak, Nick Simonette and Tyler Smith. Smith upped his score from a week ago by a dozen.

Henry Boelter scored a 28, Chase Bock scored a 27, and Zander Hoechst scored a 26. Hitting half of their 50 attempts were Zayden Linder and Chase Roemhildt.

Jeremy Miller scored a 22, Max Esser scored a 21, and Abigail Osness scored a 19.

Brayden Seeman and Oliver Starke each put up an 18. Steve Giebel posted a 17. Carter Kern grounded 10 saucers while Olivia Reinhardt shot down nine.

This Wednesday is the last competition outing.

Above: A couple of trapshooting trainers in use by one of the groups. Shooting is Tyler Smith.

Brunson Gibbs