Jake Mueller (fourth from right) for the boys and Kendra Zimmerman (third from right) for the girls were the 2024 Clipper trap team shooting stars.
Mueller, just a seventh grader, was never the top gun in any of the five competitions, but he shot down 215 out of a possible 250 targets, the most for the Clippers. Zimmerman, a junior, who also won the title last year, totaled a 105 to lead the five girls on the team.
The pair and others were honored at an awards ceremony, which was held at the Caribou Gun Club on Wednesday.
Top guns for week one were junior Nick Simonette (third from right) for the boys (46) and junior Kayla Bauer (right) for the girls (28).
For week two it was Simonette again for the boys (45) and Zimmerman for the girls (30).
Noah Hermel (second from left), also a junior, led the boys in week three with a 46, and Bauer was the top shooting girl, this time with a 23.
For week four it was sophomore Judd Gibbs (fourth from left) for the boys (46) and Zimmerman again for the girls (33).
With a 44, Gibbs repeated with the best score for week five while sophomore Olivia Reinhardt (third from right) led the girls with a 27.
Most improved shooters, determined by the difference between week one and week five, were sixth grader Steve Giebel (left) with a +14 for the boys and Reinhardt with a +17 for the girls.
After the awards ceremony, the trap team held an Annie Oakley competition, where all line up and take turns shooting at a flying clay. If they miss, the next shooters in line attempt a shot. If one of them brings down the target, the shooter that started and all the rest in line that shot and missed are eliminated. Max Esser won the first competition.
Many of the Clippers will compete at the state trap shoot in Alexandria, which is open to anyone, regardless of regular season score. Teams are divided into varsity, JV and novice. Each team requires at least five shooters.
The Clippers are scheduled to shoot on Saturday, June 15 at 10:00 a.m.
This Championship is the qualifying team competition for the Minnesota State High School League’s State Tournament on June 21st at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake.
This Championship is the qualifying team competition for the Minnesota State High School League’s State Tournament on June 21st at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake.
