歪歪漫画

BEMIDJI - With gunshots echoing in the surrounding woods, members of the Bemidji High 歪歪漫画 trap team are still practicing, even after the season concluded last week.

Bemidji won the class 9A conference 2 title this season, earning them a spot in the state tournament at Prior Lake last week, placing 29th out of 40 teams.

Now their squad of top five shooters 鈥� Roman Vold, 17; Kadyn Nipp, 17; Clayton Johnson, 14; Caleb Hall, 18; and Joza Paulson, 18 鈥� are practicing for an even bigger event: the USA High 歪歪漫画 Clay Target League National Championship, held in

The five shooters are the best out of the 86 participants, ranging from grades 6-12, who took part in the BHS trap team this season. No one is more excited and proud of Jacks than first-time head coach Cory Wilson.

Leo Pomerenke / Bemidji Pioneer

鈥淚t takes a lot,鈥� he said of his shooters making nationals, 鈥渆specially when we shoot here in all kinds of weather. 鈥� When we start shooting in mid-March, there's usually snow on the ground, wind, temperatures in the 30s. 鈥� But these kids, they really shoot well.鈥�

One of them is Vold, who was the only member of the team to qualify individually at the state tournament, finishing 21st. Vold will now travel to nationals, where he shot 99 out of 100 in team shooting last year.

He鈥檚 hoping for a repeat performance for his team this year.

鈥�(Shooting 99) feels good, but when you're out there and you keep running them, then the leg starts to shake a little bit sometimes when I'm getting set to shoot,鈥� Vold said.

That feeling of nervousness is common in trap shooting. It鈥檚 how you manage it that makes the difference.

Leo Pomerenke / Bemidji Pioneer

Wilson said that maintaining focus is what turns a good shooter into a great one.

Of course, that鈥檚 easier said than done. One missed clay can wreak havoc on a shooter鈥檚 mental space, causing them to miss more targets and go into a spiral. That鈥檚 why moral support from coaches and teammates is so vital for the BHS trap team.

鈥淲e really try to focus on a lot of positivity out here,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淢aybe your personal best is 10 (out of 25), that's a huge achievement. 鈥� We really try to recognize that and really keep the positivity and the accomplishments going.鈥�

Most shooters have their ways of focusing. Nipp tries to have an empty mind while out on the shooting range, while Vold puts in his earbuds and listens to music.

Leo Pomerenke / Bemidji Pioneer

鈥淚 listen to a lot of Three Days Grace and stuff like that,鈥� Vold said. 鈥淚t helps me forget (the misses).鈥�

Not only is it required for shooters to maintain a mental focus, but visual focus as well. Most shooters wear glasses with side blinders to help see only what鈥檚 in front of them.

Focus is even more important in bad weather and windy days, which is, of course, common in Bemidji. Nipp said maintaining a positive mindset can make or break a shooter's day in bad weather.

鈥淪ometimes I'll shoot my best on windy days,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t's all about your focus, and if you let the wind get to you, you might miss a couple more because of it. But if you don't let the wind get to you, you'll shoot the same.鈥�

Leo Pomerenke / Bemidji Pioneer

This year is Wilson鈥檚 fourth year as a coach for BHS trap shooting, but it鈥檚 his first as the head coach.

鈥淚 absolutely love it,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淲orking with the kids is an absolute blast. Seeing them get that first hit, even just hitting their first clay pigeon or their first five straight. It鈥檚 great when you can watch that kid bring it all together and start busting clays.鈥�

Wilson loves to see the competitiveness that trap shooting can bring out of kids.

鈥淪ome of them get very serious,鈥� he added. 鈥淲hen they get on the line, they're very competitive. 鈥� They want to bust every one of those clays.鈥�

Wilson has 16 assistant coaches to help Lumberjack shooters grow throughout the season. While that may seem like a lot, it allows about one coach per five kids, so shooters can learn how to improve on a more personal level.

Wilson also wanted to maintain a positive culture, which is very important in a mental sport like trap shooting.

Leo Pomerenke / Bemidji Pioneer

鈥淭he cool thing about this sport for me as a coach is we've got kids from sixth grade to seniors, boys to girls, all different kinds of clique groups in the high school represented out here,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淭hey all support each other. Any given day, any kid could be your best shooter out here.鈥�

Of course, not everything has been perfect in his first season. Handling nervousness with kids, especially at invites, can be challenging for him and his assistant coaches.

鈥淚 haven't figured that one quite out yet,鈥� Wilson admitted. 鈥�(At invites,) they'll shoot 50 rounds, take a break and then shoot 50 rounds a little later. Sometimes those kids will shoot really good in the first round, and then they maybe don't carry that focus in quite as good into the second round. I've got to find a way to make sure that they stay focused on that second 50.鈥�

Leo Pomerenke / Bemidji Pioneer

There鈥檚 always room to grow, for the team and for the coaches. But this year, Wilson is very proud of his shooters representing Bemidji on a national level, setting an example for future Lumberjacks one shot at a time.

鈥淭he great thing about this sport is that you can do this the rest of your life,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 know the (Bemidji Trap and Skeet) Club鈥檚 got a gentleman that comes out in his wheelchair and shoots traps. You can do it a long way into your life and have fun doing it.鈥�

Leo Pomerenke / Bemidji Pioneer