Jun 11, 2021

Hays High School trap team finishes season with win

Posted Jun 11, 2021 10:30 AM
Hays High School Trap Team winners in the season's final competition are Logan Schmidt, Rosston Eckroat, Monique William, Taylor Depenbusch and Chase Whitman.
Hays High School Trap Team winners in the season's final competition are Logan Schmidt, Rosston Eckroat, Monique William, Taylor Depenbusch and Chase Whitman.

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The Hays High Trap Team has finished the 2020-2021 season with a team win at the Trego Invitational that was held at the Hays City Sportsman Club on May 20.

Only the second year in existence, the Hays High Trap team is off to a great start.

Senior Monique William succeeded in not only winning the girls competition but also representing Hays High as the high individual overall for the entire shooting event, scoring 97 out of 100 targets for the evening.

Other individuals that placed on the team were sophomores Chase Whitman, second place girls; Taylor Depenbusch, third place girls. Members Rosston Eckroat, junior, and freshman Logan Schmidt placed outside of the top 10 individuals but were still high enough to help secure the win for the team. These individuals, along with five other team members - Madalyn William, Aden Debay, Miles Keller, and Tanner Werth will represent Hays High by shooting at the state competition on June 18-19 in Wichita.

In addition to this current win, the team was ranked second in the 2A Conference 2 for the 2020-21 spring season. Monique William won the girls varsity division for the 2A Conference 2, placed fourth in the girls competition, and tied for 32nd overall. Madalyn William was third in girls varsity for the 2A conference 2 and also ranked in the girls contest, placing 25th.

Mike Eckroat, one of the assistant coaches of the team, said “we are so proud of these students. Their passion for the sport is evident. They have spent a lot of time fundraising and practicing so they could all compete, enjoy trap events and represent Hays High. This is the type of sport that any kid can participate in. Students that maybe don’t fit into the more traditional types of athletics can learn how to do this and develop a good sense of leadership and team work. As coaches we feel this is also a great way to teach students safety and how to be responsible with firearms.”

Trap competition has become very popular among high school students not only in Hays but across the nation. According to the Amateur Trap Shooting Association, trap competition among teens is the fastest growing sport in high school.

The current Hays High team roster includes 28 students.

The Trap Club members have worked hard over last two years securing sponsors and fundraising to help pay for the ammunition necessary to compete. The team has received support from many local businesses. Organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Pheasants Forever have hired the trap team to work before and during banquets held in Hays. Students have also held raffles for meat bundles to raise funding towards the club.

The team has hopes of competing at the National High School Clay Target League which will be held in Mason, Michigan July 7-11.

The team is coached by Hays High teachers Chris Dinkel and Alex Ford. Assistant coaches are Grady William, Ben Hunsicker and Mike Eckroat.