Minnesota’s fastest growing high school sport is trap shooting and Little Falls is jumping on the bandwagon. Community Services Director Steve Larsen said at the Little Falls School Board meeting Monday that 6,100 student athletes represented 185 high school trap shooting teams in 2014. The spring-season co-ed sport will begin in Little Falls in 2015 and be administered through Community Services.
“We have sent out letters to service clubs and have received $2,000 for the sport’s $3,000 budget,” said Larsen.
Larsen told the Board that 8,000 students in Minnesota are expected to participate in clay target league in 2015. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has approved nearly $400,000 in small-range trap shooting grants to expand, improve or upgrade trap shooting ranges across the state.
The Little Falls team will be using the facilities at LeBlanc’s Rice Creek Hunting and Recreation east of town beginning the first week of April. Meetings will be held on Wednesdays. Students will be required to pay $135 for shells, targets, a vest and a hat, but will need to supply their own eye and ear protection.
Mike Schuett, who has 13 years of firearm safety under his belt, will be the instructor. He will be attending training soon.
“LeBlanc’s will be storing the firearms for the students, so they won’t have to transport them,” said Schuett. “They are also supplying the thrower.”
There is no limit to the number of students who can join, and students will be divided into teams of five. Call Community Services at (320) 632-7938 for more information.
By Tina Snell, Staff Writer