Trap shooting continues to grow among area high schools.
Just look about 25 miles east, where Uniontown High school started up its own team during the 2024-25 school year, and within weeks had more than 40 kids registered.
Humboldt High School, which started its program in 2018-19, will average around 50 members — some coming from neighboring districts — each spring.
Allen Community College, looking to tap into the trend, started its own trap shooting team this fall.
The Allen program has six members so far, with co-head coaches Jeremy Hess and Josh Wrestler optimistic that number will quickly grow.
“We’ve heard from quite a few kids who want to check it out,” Hess said. “If anyone wants to come down, we’ll bring them out (to the shooting range) and have them shoot five shells. They’ll usually know by then.”
Allen took part in its first ever formal shooting competition Saturday in Sedgwick with members Jaryt Hess — Jeremy Hess’ son — Weston Cleaver, Jozie Stagg and Sheldon Weber participating in the singles category.
How did it go?
“Could have been better,” said Stagg, a Uniontown graduate in her first year at Allen. “But it was fun.”
The elder Hess and Wrestler also coach the Humboldt program. And just like they have done at Allen, they were behind the launch of the Humboldt High program seven years ago. In fact, they continue to coach both teams.
“We’ll delegate some of our responsibilities in Humboldt in the spring, when the schedule picks up,” Wrestler said. “But we’ll still help them make decisions.”
Also helping with the workload at Allen is assistant coach Destry Roye, an adjunct agriculture instructor at ACC.
The Allen program took root last spring when Wrestler and the elder Hess met up with Larry Gleue, who coaches a shooting team at Southern Coffey County High School.
“We just noticed how there are quite a few colleges throughout the state who have a program,” Hess said. “We thought it’d be great for Allen to start one, too.”
Wrestler and Hess reached out to Allen athletics director Doug Desmarteau, who in turn received the blessing from Allen administrators and trustees, noting the draw for students, both locally and abroad.
What they’ve found is that shooting sports often appeal to students who may not excel at other sports.
