4 years ago my daughters asked me if they could shoot Trap. Like most of us 2A freedom-loving dads, the answer was a swift and decisive, “Hell yes you can shoot trap”. The answer wasn’t as simple as I expected.  So begins my unexpected journey…

You see, our small rural community didn’t have a trap team and the larger communities surrounding us were at capacity and could not take on any additional athletes. So our only available option was to form our own trap team.  This adventure turned out to be one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.

Did you know: Trap shooting is the fastest growing sport in the state of Iowa. In 2021 there were 147 registered teams in Iowa and over 4,200 athletes participated in the Scholastic Clay Target Program – Source: https://www.iowadnr.gov

Forming a trap team is no small feat. There isn’t exactly a step-by-step manual or playbook you can follow. Bank accounts needed to be opened, 501c3s had to be formed, a board of directors had to be recruited, parents had to be trained and certified as coaches, and….we needed a place to practice.  I was fortunate enough to sync up with a couple of like-minded parents, and a neighboring district trap team agreed to let us use their range 1 night a week for practice. After getting all the administrative and logistical aspects ironed out we were ready to start shooting…right; well not so fast.

If you want more information on forming a team please see the “How to Get Started” section of this Iowa DNR page.

I-35 Student-Athletes

If you’ve ever been involved in trap shooting, you know, it’s not cheap. An athlete can shoot between 200-400 shells a week (at a minimum). This adds up. Factoring in the cost of clays, match fees, and other expenses, the cost of a season for an athlete is in the $1000 to $1500 range (on the low side).  This isn’t exactly pocket change, and not a lot of people have this sitting around. As a result, we struggled to get kids to sign up for the team. Not because there wasn’t interest, but because it was simply too expensive for our rural community and athletes. So, we had to go back to the drawing board. Our kids worked hard to raise money. Doing everything from bulk trash pickup day in Truro (really dirty, hard, and gross work) to Lions Club fundraising dinners. This work paid off and we were able to get the average fee per athlete down to ~800.

If you would like to donate to the I-35 trap team our Midway Foundation Endowment can be found HERE.

By this time 6 months of work was put in and we still hadn’t shot a round, but the kids, parents, and community persisted. In March of 2018, the I-35 Shooting Sports team held its first practice with 22 Athletes.  My daughters Meredith (a senior now) and Natalie (a sophomore now) finally had their opportunity to compete in trap shooting and they brought 20 other kids along on their journey. That’s 20 kids that were introduced to a sport that they never would have had if not for the efforts of a couple of kids and their parents. That’s 20 kids that will learn how to safely handle a firearm and more importantly learn to value and cherish that right, and hopefully defend it as adults. That’s 20 kids that will grow up and hopefully one day pass the same knowledge, respect, and passion onto their kids.

2022 I-35 Shooting Sports Team

That first year was a whirlwind of learning as parents (who had never shot trap) were trying to coach, manage logistics of registering for matches, get ammo, and conduct organized practices all while flying by the seat of our pants. It was chaotic, to say the least.

Now that we are in our 4th year, and my oldest daughter is in her final year, I look back over the last 4 years and I am grateful for the opportunity. I’m grateful I didn’t give up. I’m grateful for the other parents and the support of the community. But most of all, I’m grateful for the opportunity to watch over 40 distinct kids cultivate a love and passion for the shooting sport with their friends and grow closer to each other via a common bond.

I-35 Student Athletes

Even as my daughters grow and age out of HighSchool Trap, I still plan on coaching and ensuring future generations have as much access to this sport as my daughters did.  Opening up opportunities for young athletes to participate in this sport has brought more fulfillment and reward than I ever could have imagined.

Meredith Gibson – Does she look excited to you? 😉

Our demand continues to grow from the students; this year we are expanding our program to include skeet and sporting clays. We have some longer-term goals to one day have our own range for practices and to host matches so more kids have opportunities to compete throughout the season.

If you know if anyone with 6 acres of land near Truro someone would like to donate to our 501c3 program or provide a long term lease at a low-cost, email i35shootingsports@gmail.com

As I wrap up, I want to express that I never dreamed of starting a trap team. I was the guy that said “yes” when someone asked to shoot my rifle, shotgun, or pistol because I wanted to dispel myths, bring others to the cause, and show folks what responsible firearm ownership looked like. But not one of those instances gave me the excitement I experienced when one of my athletes shot a perfect 25 for the first time. That’s happened a handful of times now, and I still get goosebumps as I relive those moments in vivid detail.

In closing, I only ask that if you can, find the time to seek out your closest high school trap team. Donate to them, volunteer for them, and if you can, become a certified coach and coach for them. If you are a parent, ask your kid if they might be interested in Trap. Take them to a local range and shoot a round with them. You just might find yourself on your own unexpected journey and help start a new unexpected journey for the next generation.

Nathan J Gibson
Father
Coach I-35 Shooting Sports
IFC Life Member
NRA Life Member
NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer

(Publisher’s Note:  I have watched Meredith, Natalie, and many others, with enthusiasm over the years as they’ve grown and matured, not only in their thoughts but in the actions that stem from their thoughts.  They undertake safety as their first priority in their handling of the weapons, thus critical attention to life.  They think through and ponder each move they make.  This naturally creates meaning and purpose in their lives.  Meaning and purpose lead to consequences that are linked to the choices they undertake, thus responsibility in life.  They, quite literally, are learning to arrange their lives in better and better ways on a daily basis.  In a culture that is headed in the wrong direction, it is a breath of fresh spring air to witness our young lay foundational concepts in concrete that will not only benefit them, but the countless others they’ll touch throughout their lives.  I’m proud of them.  -Michael Ware)