CROOKSTON HIGH SCHOOL TRAP TEAM CONTINUES TO GROW

May 4, 2022

The Crookston High School Trap Shooting team has 39 members this spring, and it continues to grow. They shoot every Wednesday night at the Crookston Gun Club and compete against eight other teams in their class.

Their head coach Darren Gjerswold believes there is a simple reason for the sport’s growth. “It’s a sport that doesn’t have anything to do with your height, weight, or anything like that,” said Coach Gjerswold. “Anyone can shoot trap, it isn’t like some of the other sports, and it also provides a life skill and a big draw for the kids who love to hunt and be outdoors.”

The only requirement to join the team is that you have your hunter safety training completed. Each kid shoots 50 shots every Wednesday night at a clay that goes flying in the air. Each team takes the total amount of hits for the week and adds them up for their total score, therefore the more kids on the team, the better chance your team has at being successful.

It is a Minnesota State High School League sport, and each team gets the opportunity to compete for the right to go to the Minnesota State High School League State Shooting Tournament. “Everybody shoots at what is called the “Championship” and that serves as the qualifier for the Minnesota State High School League State Shoot,” said Coach Gjerswold. “Every kid on our team will go to that “Championship” shoot and they will take the top 3 individuals and teams from the event, and advance them forward.”

Crookston has never had anyone move past the “Championship” shoot before, as it features the very top shooters in the state. So far this season, Crookston is in 8^th place out of the 9 teams in their class.

The season began in the first week of April and could go all the way into late June depending on how far the Pirates can make it as a team. “Our day too shot at the “Championship” round is on June 17,” said Coach Gjerswold. “Depending on how we do there, will determine how far we go but we could be shooting into late June.”

There are a lot of benefits that come with joining the trap team or being around the Crookston Gun Club, but Coach Gjerswold says there is one reason he is still coaching 10 years later. “Seeing these kids with a big smile on their face and constantly improving and having a place to come and just take some stress away, it doesn’t get better than that,” said Coach Gjerswold. “It is incredibly rewarding to see how much fun these kids have, and it really is like a little family that we have down here at the Gun Club.”

Gjerswold was also sure to state that there are plenty of people that help with the team and at the Gun Club. “A lot of this isn’t possible without all the help and things that go on behind the scenes,” said Coach Gjerswold. “There are so many people that spend hours here and help out and that goes back to our family and just how close we all are.”

A full list of all the Crookston High School students participating in Trap this spring can be found down below, along with some pictures from the team shooting earlier this evening.