Trap Shooting opens season on high note

The Harlan Trap Shooting Team competed over the weekend putting up a strong performance.

“I think we did really good this meet,” said Head Trap Shooting Coach Jason Paulsen. “I think our top five kids are our top squad, and I think in every division, we were number one. Our varsity kids did good.”

Landon Nihsen put up good numbers, including taking third place in varsity handicap with a score of 43, second place in varsity skeet with 46, and 39 points for a third place finish in doubles skeet.

“Landon is a natural athlete,” Paulsen said. “He’s one of those kids who can do just about anything. He had a slow start on his doubles this weekend and then after that he shook the rust off and got back to it.”

Other highlights included Brynn Schumacher and Zoey Olson taking the top two spots in intermediate singles with scores of 45 and 44. In rookie singles, three Harlan girls, Kaselyn Bradley, Josie Gross, and Kaysia Heese, earned scores of 24, 16, and 12.

“They did really good,” Paulsen added. “Brynn is a really good athlete. She enjoys it. Like Kaselyn, Josie, and Kaysia three rookie girls that started this year which is a good beginner class of female athletes this year. We always have a lot of boys that shoot, but it’s fun to see the girls shoot. They seem to enjoy it.”

The varsity team of Nihsen, Lucas Paulsen, Joel Gross, Adam Ehlert, and Nolan Muenchrath won first place with 231 points, edging out Alta with 230, and Underwood with 225.

“It’s hard to know going into it,” Paulsen said. “It’s amazing to me how high the level has gotten as far as the shooting sports are going. For the most part, nobody wins by 25 points. It’s usually within a few plays, because everybody is at the same level. It just depends on the play. Sometimes one makes all the difference.”

The teams next meet will be Saturday for Underwood’s meet in Omaha. Paulsen is looking forward to watching the kids continue to grow and put up strong numbers.

“It’s a grind for everyone,” he said. “If they shoot everything, it’ll be up to around 300 rounds that day, so it’ll test our stamina this early in the year. It’s good for the kids to have to grind it out and keep their mental focus for the whole day.”