SPORTS
A10 — THE OBSERVER
SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2022
TARGET
Continued from Page A9
Springs Highway, and sends
the scores to the Oregon
Clay Target League for
updated standings. The
Bobcats will likely travel
to several regional shoots,
according to Martens,
before competing at the
state championship in Hills-
boro in late June.
Stronger together
For Gage Martens, trap
shooting has been a hobby
of his since he was 8 years
old. While the junior is one
of the more experienced on
the team, the Union clay
target team is open to stu-
dent athletes with minimal
experience. He noted that
teamwork goes a long way
for each individual shooter
to improve a variety of
skills.
“There’s a great team
element, especially when
you’re up there on the line
with them,” he said.
Sophomore Charleen
Pepper was new to the sport
upon joining last year, but
has quickly found a produc-
tive environment with the
team.
“This team is very sup-
portive,” she said. “They
give you pointers and they
tell you ‘good job’ when
you hit one. It’s not a toxic
team, which is great.”
Practice makes perfect
After hours of prac-
tice at the Union Gun Club,
stepping up for the recorded
offi cially scored session can
be a mental challenge for
members of the team.
Gage Martens stated that
gaining the skill necessary
to hit the clay targets is only
half the battle in scoring
highly.
“Trap shooting is about
20% your shooting and the
rest is mental. I think I’ve
really improved my mental
game through this,” he said.
“The drills (the coach) puts
us through really helps to
improve on that mental
skill. When you’re out there
and get close to that 25
straight, it can really get
into your head and you can
get nervous.”
For Pepper, the right
mindset can go a long way
as well. She noted that
focusing on the target and
not overthinking are ele-
ments in recording a strong
score.
“Patience is key,” Pepper
said. “Waiting and accuracy
are things I’ve improved
on.”
Fostering the sport
Still a relatively young
program, the team’s orga-
nizers and members alike
are seeking to grow the
sport locally. The Union
High School team partners
with the Union Gun Club
and owner Dave Dahlstrom
in providing the space and
resources to compete in
clay target shooting — the
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
James Anderson, left, Jackson Davenport, middle, and Gage Martens cycle through a clay target shooting routine at the Union Gun Club on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. The Union
High School clay target team records its own scores on a weekly basis and will compete at regional and statewide competitions later in the season.
team previously traveled
to La Grande for competi-
tions and practices, making
it diffi cult for some students
to fi nd a ride.
On a nationwide
scale, the USA State
High School Clay Target
League is hoping to have
100,000 participating stu-
dents by 2025. The league
was founded in Minne-
sota in 2001 to increase
youth involvement in the
sport and has grown into a
nationwide competition.
Supporting the team
locally in Union is an
extensive eff ort, as Dan
Martens works with the
National Rifl e Association,
Oregon Hunter’s Associ-
ation and local sponsors
to provide the resources
necessary for the team. In
addition, Martens credited
Faulk’s Mini Mart in Union
for being a strong fi nancial
contributor to the program
— the store previously raf-
fl ed off a gun that brought
in roughly $7,000 toward
the team. According to
Dan Martens, a larger team
with about 20 students
costs about $3,500 to put
together targets, supplies
and rounds.
“Without their help,
these guys wouldn’t shoot
for free. Shooting is expen-
sive, which is why we
have some school guns
available.”
In addition to supplies,
the program at Union has
worked to supply guns at
the range for students who
do not personally own one
or may be using one that
does not fi t them properly.
With the donations and
eff orts from larger organi-
zations, the Union team is
able to allow newcomers
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
Jackson Davenport aims at a clay target during a Union High School
Clay Target team competition on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. The team,
which is in its fourth year as a program, includes seven student
athletes who compete in the spring.
and experienced shooters
alike with ample resources
to grow in the sport.
Dan Martens noted
that the overall goal of
the team is teaching high
school students a skill that
they can take with them in
life, emphasizing safe gun
usage as the integral part of
the program.
“To me, the most
important part in my role
is teaching these kids gun
safety,” Dan Martens said.
“If that’s all we ever get
done out of that, then I’m
happy.”
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
Union High School Clay
Target team member
James Anderson
surveys the shooting
range during a team
competition at the
Union Gun Club on
Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
The team meets weekly,
sending off scores to
the Oregon Clay Target
League for regular
season standings.
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