Gavin Salyer Placed Second in Conference 1 and Tied for Third Place Nationally
Wilmington College Clay Target Club is once again competing on the trap range as a member of the USA College Clay Target League.
PICTURED: From the left are Wilmington College Trap Team members: Jonathan Vance, Gavin Salyer, Spencer Wilcox, Kane Lewis, Wyatt Perez, Colton Miller, and Kyle Searson. NOT PICTURED: Gunner Lee, Killian Lott, Riley McClure, Assistant Coach Bruce Warren, Coach Cindy Warren, Coach Tim Woods, Assistant Coach Steve Sharp and Team Advisor Eric Dick. BELOW: Gavin Salyer with his second place Conference 1 medallion and Coach Tim Woods and Colton Miller featured with his prized 25-Straight Hat and Patch.
The team returns this spring to build upon its success this past fall when the team placed fourth of nine schools and individuals Gavin Salyer placed second in Conference 1 and was tied for third place nationally among male college trap shooters. Spencer Wilcox placed ninth in Conference 1.
USA College Clay Target League is a virtual league allowing colleges to participate all over the United States without travel from state to state or even within a state. All rounds are completed at a range close to the college and submitted via a secured scoring website. Scores are calculated and results are posted at the end of each week of competition.
Last fall, WC's newly organized team joined such established teams in Ohio as Kent State University, Ohio University and the University of Akron. WC competes at the Clinton County Farmer’s and Sportsman’s Association.
The league lists its goals in order of importance as safety first, followed by enjoyment of the sport and then marksmanship.
Wilmington College has a 10-member team participating in trap, which is a clay target game of 25 targets with five participants at a time. Each participant has the opportunity to break five targets at each of five stations, which are placed nine feet apart in a line 16 yards behind a clay target throwing machine. The machine is set to randomly thrown five different target presentations in front of each participant, providing both a challenging and fun activity.
Earlier this month, Colton Miller achieved a perfect round on the trap field in breaking 25 consecutive targets. This is quite an accomplishment and was celebrated by the entire team by placing clays in Miller's hat, followed by him launching the hat into the air so everybody on the range (safely) tries to hit the hat. The hat was then returned to Miller as a symbol of his accomplishment.
Results from the Fall 2020 Conference 1 Trap were: Bismark State in first place followed by Central Lakes, Northwest Kansas Tech, Wilmington College, Paul Smith’s, University of Jamestown, North Central Missouri, North Central Kansas Tech and McPherson College.