Trap shooting involves shooting clay targets also known as birds. This is most commonly done with a 12, 20 or 28 gauge shotgun before they hit the ground.
The school’s trap club does not require members to attend practices nor do they offer them and students can be on the team in the fall, spring or both. The team competes at Winchester Trap and Skeet Facility in East Alton on Thursdays for around 1 to 1.5 hours.
‘’Trap is a sport activity that improves eye/hand coordination, focus, along with a good respect for firearm safety. This is also an activity/sport where a person can participate and be competitive most of their lives,’’ trap club Coach Rob Bockstruck said. Bockstruck has been shooting traps close to fifty years and coaching for seven years ‘’I enjoy seeing new shooters adapt their skills and progress. I hope that shooting sports will be an activity they do the rest of their lives.’’ Bockstruck said.
The Alton team competes against other teams in the area including Bethalto, Jerseyville, Marquette and others. Each team has five shooters per competition. Those five members get to shoot 25 shots for two rounds, totaling to 250 shots per team.
The winner is decided by which team has the most points after both rounds. Alton High School Trap Team costs $175 for one season which includes loaner guns along with ammunition, earplugs and other starting materials. “The price for shooting traps needs to be lowered because it is too expensive,” three year team member Carl Hamburg said.
Each fall and spring the club can add new members. ‘’We are always looking for new shooters,’’ Bockstruck said. The school’s trap team is small this year with only 10 shooters, so they had to cut down to one team instead of two teams.
Within this sport, students are able to socialize with each other and improve their life skills. ‘’The one thing I would tell people to entice them to shoot for our team is that it’s really fun,’’ Hamburg said.
To join the Alton Team, one needs to contact the AHS Trap Club via its Facebook page or [email protected].’’
