Sports : Red Cedar Shooters begin second year with 12 new members on team of 17

Patrick Thompson takes his turn during Red Cedar Shooters trapshooting practice.

Coach Brendan Knudtson gives Patrick Thompson some lessons in the stance used for trapshooting.

David Ervin, one of the returning Red Cedar Shooters, takes aim during practice.

DNR officer Pat Jorgensen gives some advice to the Red Cedar Shooters during practice Wednesday.

Daniel Ervin aims his shotgun toward as he waits for the clay pigeon.

Shooters take turns, working in groups of up to five, going from left to right.

A puff of smoke from Daniel Ervin's shotgun fades as he watches the result of his shot.

Dalton Lebeda fires his shotgun toward the orange target during Red Cedar Shooters practice.

The increasing popularity of high school trap shooting is apparent in the numbers:

• The numbers of high school trap shooting teams competing throughout the state.

• The numbers of participants on those teams.

• The amount of support those teams are receiving from the community, in terms of donations for the program.

The Vinton-Shellsburg trap shooting team has seen rising numbers in both its participants and its supporters, said coach Brendan Knudtson.

"This year we have 17 shooters, 12 of them new," he said.

The team calls itself the Red Cedar Shooters in honor of the Red Cedar Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, which helped the team get started last year by offering free use of its facilities and also made a sizable cash donation for the purchase of shotgun shells.

Although the Vinton-Shellsburg Red Cedar Shooters are considered a V-S high school team coached by VS teacher Knudtson, the school does not support the team financially the way it does most other sports.

All of the funds for the program have come from the participants or sponsoring businesses or organizations.

"Our community has been wonderful," said Knudtson.

Last year, the Izaak Walton League was the main sponsor. This year, the Ikes have continued to offer their shooting area and the clay pigeons. But funding has come from a variety of businesses.

The Red Cedar Shooters will thank those sponsors by listing them on the team t-shirts as well as a sign that will be made for competitions, said Knudtson.

Along with the teacher, the team is guided by Iowa DNR Safety Officer Pat Jorgensen and two of the fathers of shooters, Mike Geiger and Brad Burroughs.

A new DNR grant written by Jorgensen provided funding for an automatic target thrower. This will allow the V-S team to hold its first home competition, a dual against Mount Vernon on Friday, May 7.

On Wednesday evening, the team held tryouts to determine which shooters would be on the A, B or C teams.

Safety first

Brendan said that trap shooting can boast that it is the safest high school sport, even more safe than golf or bowling.

That's because of the high priority that goes into teaching firearm safety.

The participants cannot take their weapons or ammunition to school; they are required to leave it at home. In some cities, the schools make arrangements with law enforcement personnel to leave their shotguns and ammonution in secure locations, especially if the students live a long distance from the school they attend.