Trap shooters face unique challenges Thursday, February 09, 2012 By Brooke Culler Sophomore trap shooter Katie Griger is given tips from her coach, Rick Jones, on how to improve her shooting technique. - Emily Kuklinski Advertising At PL South, there’s a unique activity not all high schools choose to have: trap shooting. Although a few Titan students watch trap shooting, the majority do not know anything about the sport. “Trap is a sport where you use shotguns to shoot at a clay disc that’s shot out of a bunker anywhere between 16 to 27 yards away,” sophomore Nick Kuklinski said. “Trap shooting is really hard because you are just going through the motions at first, but when you stay dedicated to the sport, you get better at it.” The trap shooting season starts in March and ends in early May with a state competition where shooters commonly face blustery winds and unpredictable temperatures. “People often believe that [trap] is easy,” Kuklinski said. “What people don’t realize is that you have to shoot in the freezing cold weather while wind is blowing in your face, which affects your concentration, steadiness and body.” For professional and hobby shooters alike, focus is the most difficult part of the sport. “You don’t really get tired while shooting, because you’re only really concentrating on hitting the targets one at a time,” Kuklinkski said. “Your main focus stays on shooting, which prevents you from getting distracted and messing up your rhythm.” According to these Titan shooters, concentration is imperative. “A split second of distraction could mean a loss and you can’t get that target back. One lost target can be the difference [between] winning or losing,” senior Eric Bertone said. Kuklinski says his focus must always remain in check to stay on top of his game. Other shooters attempt to keep their concentration while waiting for their turn to shoot, but it’s not always possible. “I try to stay focused while shooting, but I usually start singing a song in my head,” junior Matt Bennett said. Shooters develop a rhythm while breathing to help steady their body and keep their gun and eyes focused on the flying targets. According to Kuklinski and Bennett, keeping both eyes open while shooting is better than using just one. “You mainly want to keep both eyes open so that you see where the target goes when it comes out of the bunker,” Kuklinski said. Although the sport requires a serious demeanor, the team knows how to joke around when the time is right. “During the actual shooting, it is very serious, but other times in between [the shooting intervals], it’s just really chill,” Bennett said. The sport itself requires an immense amount of dedication. The shooters’ commitment is tested when students have to maneuver around the state laws prohibiting firearms on school campus. “Since bringing guns onto the school campus isn’t allowed, my friend and I get a ride down to his house, where he gets his gun and my mom is parked outside with mine,” Kuklinski said. “Then, she drives us to the trap range.” Even students who have a driver’s license are forced to work out a plan to get to practice prepared. “For some people that live farther away like me, I go directly to trap and my dad heads home to pick up my gun and then meets me at trap practice with it,” Bertone said. Despite frigid, windy practices and complicated rules regarding their equipment, trap shooting is one sport that these Titan shooters can’t get enough of. “I have been shooting since seventh grade and will be shooting until I’m out of high school, or [even] college,” Kuklinski said.

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