Shotgun
1
thirty-nine 39 Personalities 38 thirty-eight Personalities The grass has bright orange fragments of rock all over. Red and green shotgun shells litter the concrete. “Pull!” In less than 5 seconds, a loud bang results in a rock shattering and another happy smile from the shooter – a perfect round of trap shooting. Where do you find this scene? Missouri Western’s Shotgun Club has been an orga- nization since October of 2013 and was recognized by the Student Government Association at the end of January 2014. The club practices at Western’s own trap range, located on the west campus grounds. According to Matt Scholz, president of the Shotgun Club, there are three main collegiate shotgun sports: trap, skeet and sporting clays. The team is currently just competing in American trap shooting. Scholz said that he hopes the club eventually competes in both trap and skeet, or even all three of the collegiate shotgun sports. Sholz said that three members - he, Vice President Jake Edwards and Coltin Ridenour - competed this summer at the World Championships, located in Sparta, Ill. Sholz took second place in his age division for trap and fifth in the high all-around, which includes singles trap, handicap trap and doubles trap. Edwards set a personal record at the competition. Although the club does not compete in skeet, Scholz said it is helpful for the club to shoot other disciplines to help break up the monotony of practice and learn new skills. According to Scholz, the organization started with about thirty members but many weren’t ready to put in the work that came with started up an organization. Now, the Shotgun Club has twelve paying members. “There’s a $50 membership fee per semester,” Scholz said. “It is the second cheapest, I believe, in the Mid- west for a shotgun club.” S H T According to Scholz, the club has to charge the fee because Western’s Shotgun Club is not associated with the athletic department. Therefore, the club is responsible for providing insurance, along with prizes and trophies once they start hosting competitions at Western. Members of the club must also supply their own am- munition, gun and gear. Because Western is a firearm-free campus, the mem- bers of the Shotgun Club keep their guns and ammu- nition off-campus at other members’ houses. Along with being president of the club, Sholz has his coaching certification for shotguns. Some of the members of the club had no previous experience with firearms. “It’s just been that coach’s mentality of being able to prepare an individual to handle a firearm properly, be- ing able to use a firearm in a safe manner, and under- standing the power of and what is involved with using a firearm,” he said. Edwards said that experience is not required to join the Shotgun Club. “We have members that shot all their life and mem- bers that never shot before, so you don’t have to have experience to join,” Edwards said. Joseph Hawkins, freshman member of the Shotgun Club, said he got involved with the group because he shot trap in high school and wanted to continue while furthering his education. Hawkins said that he has continued to learn about shooting from the older members of the club. He also said he is excited for the future and wants more Grif- fons to become members. “I hope to see more people get involved,” Hawkins said. “It’s fun. It’s super safe. There’s no reason not to.” Scholz said that the club is definitely an educational experience. “The Shotgun Club isn’t a bunch of rednecks go- ing out and just shooting stuff,” Scholz said. “We’re an organized group.” The organization of the group occurred last semes- ter, when Scholz and the rest of the members com- pleted paperwork to become recognized by multiple shooting organizations. Some of these organizations include the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Midway USA, Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) and Academ- ics, Intergrity, and Marksmanship (AIM), which is the high school and collegiate division of ATA. Competition Membership Experience Organization Shotgun Club aims to grow and succeed The Missouri Western Shotgun Club practices at Western’s own trap range. The club has a strong core group of members (far left). President Matt Scholz coaches Coltin Ridenour during a round of shooting (left). Jake Edwards works on his shot at the range during practice on a windy day (below). Story, Photos & Design: Taylor Allen Color Page Color - Size 9 - 5-12064: Missouri Western Color Page Color - Size 9 - 5-12064: Missouri Western
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Transcript of Shotgun
thirty-nine 39
Pers
onal
ities
38 thirty-eight
Personalities
The grass has bright orange fragments of rock all over. Red and green shotgun shells litter the concrete.
“Pull!”In less than 5 seconds, a loud bang results in a rock
shattering and another happy smile from the shooter – a perfect round of trap shooting.
Where do you find this scene?Missouri Western’s Shotgun Club has been an orga-
nization since October of 2013 and was recognized by the Student Government Association at the end of January 2014. The club practices at Western’s own trap range, located on the west campus grounds.
According to Matt Scholz, president of the Shotgun Club, there are three main collegiate shotgun sports: trap, skeet and sporting clays.
The team is currently just competing in American trap shooting. Scholz said that he hopes the club eventually competes in both trap and skeet, or even all
three of the collegiate shotgun sports.Sholz said that three members - he, Vice President
Jake Edwards and Coltin Ridenour - competed this summer at the World Championships, located in Sparta, Ill. Sholz took second place in his age division for trap and fifth in the high all-around, which includes singles trap, handicap trap and doubles trap.
Edwards set a personal record at the competition.Although the club does not compete in skeet, Scholz
said it is helpful for the club to shoot other disciplines to help break up the monotony of practice and learn new skills.
According to Scholz, the organization started with about thirty members but many weren’t ready to put in the work that came with started up an organization. Now, the Shotgun Club has twelve paying members.
“There’s a $50 membership fee per semester,” Scholz said. “It is the second cheapest, I believe, in the Mid-west for a shotgun club.”
SH TAccording to Scholz, the club has to charge the fee
because Western’s Shotgun Club is not associated with the athletic department. Therefore, the club is responsible for providing insurance, along with prizes and trophies once they start hosting competitions at Western.
Members of the club must also supply their own am-munition, gun and gear.
Because Western is a firearm-free campus, the mem-bers of the Shotgun Club keep their guns and ammu-nition off-campus at other members’ houses.
Along with being president of the club, Sholz has his coaching certification for shotguns. Some of the members of the club had no previous experience with firearms.
“It’s just been that coach’s mentality of being able to prepare an individual to handle a firearm properly, be-ing able to use a firearm in a safe manner, and under-standing the power of and what is involved with using a firearm,” he said.
Edwards said that experience is not required to join the Shotgun Club.
“We have members that shot all their life and mem-bers that never shot before, so you don’t have to have experience to join,” Edwards said.
Joseph Hawkins, freshman member of the Shotgun Club, said he got involved with the group because he shot trap in high school and wanted to continue while furthering his education.
Hawkins said that he has continued to learn about shooting from the older members of the club. He also said he is excited for the future and wants more Grif-fons to become members.
“I hope to see more people get involved,” Hawkins said. “It’s fun. It’s super safe. There’s no reason not to.”
Scholz said that the club is definitely an educational experience.
“The Shotgun Club isn’t a bunch of rednecks go-ing out and just shooting stuff,” Scholz said. “We’re an organized group.”
The organization of the group occurred last semes-ter, when Scholz and the rest of the members com-pleted paperwork to become recognized by multiple shooting organizations.
Some of these organizations include the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Midway USA, Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) and Academ-ics, Intergrity, and Marksmanship (AIM), which is the high school and collegiate division of ATA.
Competition Membership
Experience OrganizationShotgun Club aims to grow and succeed
The Missouri Western Shotgun Club practices at Western’s own trap range. The club has a strong core group of members (far left). President Matt Scholz coaches Coltin Ridenour during a round of shooting (left). Jake Edwards works on his shot at the range during practice on a windy day (below).
Story, Photos & Design: Taylor Allen
Colo
r Pag
eColor - Size 9 - 5-12064: Missouri Western
Color PageColor - Size 9 - 5-12064: Missouri Western
