Demons Trap Shooters Excel in Colorado Springs
Myles Walker of the BHS Demons Shooting Team smashes a clay target at the SCTP International Finals in Colorado Springs. Walker won the gold medal in the double trap event
August 1, 2013 – USA International Shooting Park, Ft. Carson, CO – Fresh off wining their second Scholastic Clay Target Program National Trap Championship in three years, five members of the BHS Demons Shooting Team traveled to Colorado Springs to participate in the SCTP International (Olympic Style) Championships which were held concurrently with the USA Shooting National Championships.
Demons Myles Walker, Christian Jensen, Jordan Hintz, Alexa & Cody McCarthy were all fortunate enough to be guests at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, staying in the same facilities with many of the United States top athletes and Olympic champions, an experience very few people will ever have the opportunity to do.
The Demons shooters made the long journey Ft Carson to compete in the 250-target bunker trap event and the 300-target double trap event, both of which are Olympic sports that are much faster and more difficult than the American versions of the games. With limited access to an Olympic bunker to train, the Burlington area athletes once again proved the BHS Shooting team is amongst the finest youth development teams in the country.
The bunker trap event is comprised of 10-rounds of 25-targets held over four days, making it a grueling marathon of both physical and mental stamina where seasoned athletes rise to the top. Two shots are allowed at each of the targets. After 250 targets, the top-six in each category then shoot a final round of 25 to determine the medal winners. There were 53 competitors from 17 teams that participated in the SCTP bunker trap event.
Walker, Hintz and Alexa McCarthy teamed up to win the senior (High School) silver medal in bunker trap shooting a team score of 643 out of 750 targets second to only the Bridge Creek Clays out of Georgia who tallied 656.
Hintz led the Demons with 221 of 250 in the qualifications and then hit 18 in the final to tie for third place; in a sudden death shoot off he prevailed with the senior bronze medal. Walker added 218 to finish sixth. Alexa McCarthy’s 203 put her into the ladies final where she finished fourth. Cody McCarthy finished fourth in the Intermediate (Grades 5-8) division with 189. Hintz and Walker were among only seven athletes who shot perfect rounds of 25 during the event.
Double trap is ten rounds of 30 targets shot over two days. Each round is 15 pair thrown simultaneously at different angles creating a challenge for even the best shooters in the world. Competitors get one shot at each target with the top-six again shooting off for the medals.
Jensen, Hintz and Walker were teamed in the double trap event and the Demons surprised the competition by winning the senior gold medal breaking 729 of 900 targets finishing eleven targets ahead of the Minute Man Sharpshooters from Massachusetts. Walker rose above the pack to also win the individual senior gold medal breaking 258 targets with Hintz joining him on the podium taking the bronze with a 247. Jensen also made the top six with a 10-round total of 218.
Since the SCTP event was held concurrently with the USA Shooting National Championships, the SCTP competitors were also eligible to win USAS awards; Walkers impressive show in in the double trap event earned him the USAS Junior bronze medal (up to 21) and made a lasting impression on USAS coaches and fellow competitors. Hintz won second place for USAS Class B in double trap and Alexa McCarthy won second in class B ladies bunker trap.
There is currently an Olympic bunker being built at the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association’s new Shooting Complex and Learning Center in the town of Rome, near Steven’s Point. This will allow Midwest athletes the opportunity to practice and train for National competitions in the future in addition to local competitions to be held at the venue.
The competition is the last time that the three seniors; Hintz, Walker and Jensen competed with the BHS Demons Shooting team ending an era that included four Wisconsin High School Trap Championships, two SCTP High School Championships and two SCTP National Trap Championships. They along with the six other seniors on the 2013 Demons team will pass the torch to the next generation of sharpshooters in the BHS program led by head coach Chet Tuinstra.
For more information on the Burlington High School Demons Shooting Team visit www.bhsdemonstrap.com or on the Scholastic Clay Target Program visit www.sssfonline.com