Squad wins another overall national title
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff Writer
The Burlington High School trapshooting team has, improbably, become the standard of excellence in the national Scholastic Clay Target Program.
After earning what many considered a near-impossible overall national title in 2011, the team finished three targets short of repeating that feat a year ago – against not just the top-high school shooters in the country, but the top club, county and state DNR-based teams.
While the Demons succeeded in bringing home the high-school division title last year, they wanted the overall title back.
They got it Saturday, finishing with a near-perfect 986 out of a possible 1,000 targets at the World Shooting and Recreation Complex in Sparta, Ill.
First-year head coach Chet Tuinstra enjoyed what he called “a fantastic week.”
“This is a great group of seniors and I wish them all the best as they move on in life,” he said.
The Demons hit 493 of 500 targets on both days of competition. The Demons No. 1 varsity squad saw Jordan Hintz, Cody Schilz, Christian Jensen, Myles Walker and Alexa McCarthy finish with two perfect rounds of 125 during the tournament – meaning all five shooters hit all 25 targets that round.
Schilz missed just one target over two days, finishing with a near perfect 199. Hintz ran off a perfect 100 on the second day to finish with a 198, while Jensen and McCarthy both carded 197 and Walker a 195.
The team then sweated out a weather delay and several shoot-offs before finding out they were four targets ahead of the Richland Trap Team and 11 ahead of the Gateway Claybusters of Missouri.
The Demons’ intermediate advanced squad of Cody McCarthy (194), Ethan Jenson (190), Hunter Conrad (189), Weston Uhlenhake (188) and Cullen Kruster (182) finished second in their division, and posted a perfect 125 round of their own.
Hintz, Schilz and Walker won the high school championship in the sporting clays portion of the event, winning a shoot-off with the Brophy Broncos of Arizona. The trio also finished eighth in the skeet event.
The consistently high scores gave the Demons the high overall award for the championship as well.
In addition to the team awards, Ali Knight outlasted 500 athletes and won the “Last Competitor Standing” award, while Alexa McCarthy won the bronze in the ladies trap.
Former BHS students Ethan Kerr (198) and Jenna Ebbers (192) won silver medals in their respective collegiate divisions. Conrad was runner up in the high overall in the intermediate advanced division.
The national event saw seven seniors finish their careers for BHS – Brent DeBruine, Terry Carr, Hintz, Jensen, Gunnar Knight, Schilz and Walker. Four of them – Hintz (Hillsdale College), Walker (Lindenwood University) and Carr and Schilz (Bethel College) – will be attending college on shooting scholarships.
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Those Burlington trapshooters must have one heck of a good coach, in addition to their talent. Amazing feat.
Coaching is a part, the biggest part is with the Parents. Do you realize what it costs to get to this level. The guns alone are in the Thousands of dollar range,shells and range fees are about $9.00 per 25 targets ( give or take). And the travel and lodging is all picked up by the parents.The Burlington Conservation Club, where they practice ,has let them shoot at reduced prices, and Bought Thousands of dollars worth of shell to sell them at about cost. This is how Familys get strong together, just Love It.
Congratulations to everyone involved in the Sparta event!! I agree with ‘home town’….I know this is a huge commitment of time and money from team members and their families. We need to support their fundraisers! Best wishes to those moving on to the college level………and continued success to those still
shooting for the Burlington team.
A HUGE Congratulations to the kids! Please…Do not forget the fact that the Burlington Conservation Club opened it’s doors for the team and has provided a place for them to shoot for years. They have also done the same for Waterford. They have donated thousands of dollars to help offset costs & that amazing coaching staff is filled with members! I have always been impressed with what the BCC has done with the Fish-A-Ree, scholarships, Kids Shoots, Learn To Hunt in addition to the trap teams. To say that they are a productive member of our community is an understatement! way to go kids & way to go BCC! Nice to see Burlington leading the way & proving to people that guns & kids can be a great thing if done correctly! Proud of you all!