Sedro-Woolley High School trap team’s first home meet of the season at Old Skagit Gun Club on Josh Wilson Road on September 30 highlighted students' focus on skill-building and teamwork.
The team, part of the school’s FFA chapter, practices once a week and welcomes students of all skill levels. No prior experience or tryouts are required. Students join by completing permission slips and paperwork through the high school counseling office.
Sophomore Avery Lohman said he first heard about the team from a friend of his brother’s who had competed in previous years.
“I heard about it from my brother's friend actually who had done it. He had graduated a couple years ago and he had told me about it and he had lent me a gun,” Avery said.
Senior Hannah Silves learned about the team from a neighbor.
“I heard about it from my neighbor from when he was in this chapter and he did it,” she said.
Students said camaraderie is a key part of the experience.
“I like to shoot—shooting is fun. The camaraderie is pretty cool too. You get to be on a team, and people improve and get better,” Avery said.
Hannah agreed, saying her favorite part is “hanging out with everybody and getting to shoot.”
Senior Caleb Bethea, the team’s most experienced member this year, said improving is mostly about consistency.
“Making sure you’re finding what’s working for you and then consistently doing that every time, every shot,” he said.
Competition, he added, is largely a mental game.
“It’s honestly mostly a mental game once you figure out the skills because sitting there for 25 shots while everyone else has to also shoot those 25 shots—it’s a big mental game,” Caleb said.
Practice is held at Old Skagit Gun Club, where students shoot in squads of five. Each shooter decides how many 25-shot rounds to complete.
“It kind of depends on if there’s enough people to start a squad. Some people shoot two rounds, some people just shoot one. It’s pretty relaxed,” Caleb said. “It’s not like football practice; there’s no warming up or anything. You can play other sports and still do trap shooting.”
Freshman Douglas Fraser said new members shouldn’t feel pressured.
“You don’t have to show up and immediately shoot more than 20,” he said. “You can be all sorts of skill levels, from complete beginner, never done it before, all the way to where Caleb is, who’s been doing it for multiple years.”
The team is known for being supportive.
“Everyone here is really friendly. There’s always a rotation of someone who has been doing it awhile who can help the underclassmen learn how to shoot better,” Douglas said.
Students agreed that being on the team has helped them make friends, improve hand-eye coordination, and build confidence.
For students considering joining, Douglas encouraged, “Just do it. You don’t have to immediately be good at shooting. You can start from where you are and work your way up. It’s fun getting out there, and it’s really fun when you shoot a target and it completely disintegrates—that’s the best feeling.”
Caleb added, “It’s supposed to be fun.”
Upcoming meets are Oct. 7 and Oct. 14, with the District Championship scheduled for Oct. 21, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Practices are Mondays from 5 to 7 p.m. at Old Skagit Gun Club.