Several members of the Brandon-Evansville clay target team headed outdoors to shoot at the Alexandria Shooting Park, getting practice in despite the cold and the snow. The team has seven members returning from its conference runner-up squad of last year.
Returning after a season in which the team finished second in the 1A conference, the Brandon-Evansville clay target team will be moving to the 2A conference, but should still have a solid team as they return all but one shooter.
“We are looking forward to another great year with seven returning members from 2012, said team manager Cheryl Gebhardt. “Senior Kyle Nelson will be our captain and junior Cody Lund will be co-captain for our 2013 season. We are looking for them to bring leadership to our younger members.”
This year’s squad will compete against teams from Mora, Ogilvie, Pillager, Staples-Motley, Tracy, Wabasso and Zumbrota-Mazeppa.
“Teams are put against teams of similar size, not by school size,” said Gebhardt.
Squads don’t travel to compete in this league. Instead, scores are entered each week by the coach or team manager, and are then posted on the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League’s website.
“The team has been practicing at the Alexandria Shooting Park in the cold, wind, snow and rain,” Gebhardt said. “It has been a rough start, but with each practice, despite the weather, the team, overall, has been improving and showing great determination.
“Area groups like Brandon Fins and Feathers Club, Millerville Sportsman’s Club, Christina Lake Longbeards and FNRA have helped keep the cost down for the trap team.
BRANDON-EVANSVILLE CLAY TARGET TEAM
ROSTER
SENIOR – Kyle Nelson.
JUNIORS – Cody Lund, Jacob Wolf.
SOPHOMORES – Will Schroeder, Patrick McGaffey, Christian McGaffey.
FRESHMEN – Jordan Lund, Chris Johnson, Adam Fenlason.
7TH GRADERS – Michael Schroeder, Colton Sherman.
COACHES – Dave Gebhard, head coach; Syl Schmidt Jr., assistant; Cheryl Gebhardt, team manager.
By: Lori Mork, Alexandria Echo Press
Published April 26, 2013, 12:00 AM