This is a game of mental toughness, of consistency and the ability to adjust all the time.”

Coach Abe Correa

TORRINGTON – Thirteen talented high school sharpshooters from across Goshen County battled to a fourth-place finish at the 2025 Wyoming High School Clay Target League state tournament on Saturday, June 28.

Nineteen teams from across Wyoming competed at the event hosted by the Goshen County Sportsman’s Club.

When the smoke cleared on Saturday afternoon, the County 7 Clay Busters (Goshen County high school shooting team) stood in fourth place with an overall team score of 461. The Gillette high schools clinched the top two spots with Thunder Basin in first place at 474 and Campbell County second (469). Cheyenne East finished third at 464.

Contestants spent most of Saturday at the Goshen County Sportsman’s Club, shooting a total of 100 rounds over the course of two sessions of 50 rounds each.

Three County 7 Clay Busters marksmen and markswomen broke into the top 10 in varsity. William Knowlton captured silver in a two-way tie in the boys’ varsity category with a score of 98 out of 100. Connor Moody tied for fourth place in varsity boys with a tally of 97.

Lillian Jurek represented Goshen County in the varsity girls’ division, garnering bronze in a two-way tie for third with a score of 90.

Moody also received recognition for shooting 25 and 50 targets in a row on Saturday. Knowlton earned the 25-straight target award.

While Goshen County came up short by only a few points in making the top three, the team posted solid performances across the board, coach Abe Correa said.

“We left some targets out there that we would’ve loved to have hit to get in the top three,” Correa added. “In a sport that settles final team placings and individual championships in a single day, competition can be tough and nerves can be an issue. The kids did well, though, and I’m super proud of them.”

Winds shifted constantly on Saturday, posing a significant challenge. At times, a strong incoming breeze stood the targets up, making them rise higher. Occasionally, the wind died down, making the targets flat. Goshen County trap shooters rose to the occasion, however.

“This is a game of mental toughness, of consistency and the ability to adjust all the time,” Correa explained.

Trap shooting is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, Correa added. The 19 teams vying for the No. 1 spot represented communities of all sizes in Wyoming, from the Cheyenne schools to Dubois on the other spectrum. 

There are no classifications for team size at the state trap tournament and the top three placers on the team leaderboard this year each compete in the 4A classification in other sports.

The trap shooting season typically begins in February, Correa said. The Goshen County Sportsman’s Club allows sharpshooters access on an individual basis or as a team throughout the season. The Goshen County School District No. 1 recognizes trap shooting as an activity and athletes can letter in the sport.

“The kids put in a tremendous amount of work (into trap shooting), just like they would with any other sport,” Correa added.

Hosting a state trap shooting tournament is an enormous undertaking. Between practice rounds the day before the competition and the two rounds on Saturday, contestants went through 1,900 targets, Correa said. The amount of ammunition expended runs into the tens of thousands.

Correa expressed deep gratitude to the Goshen County Sportsman’s Club for opening its doors and facilities to 19 teams on Saturday and for the team to practice during the season. Thanks also went out to the wider community and the school district for supporting the County 7 Clay Busters.

Correa encouraged all high-school age youth in Goshen County to come out and give trap shooting a try. 

Prospective sharpshooters need only bring themselves to practices as generous community support provides shotguns, ammo and targets, Correa added.

Additional results

Varsity boys

T36 – Remington Mathson – 87

T48 – Emmett Coxbill – 84

T66 – Mateo Correa – 77

Junior varsity girls

9 – Auryon Moody – 45

Junior varsity boys

T3 – Dutch Ogburn – 89

T24 – Chase Heilbrun – 77

T24 – Boden Prall – 77

T32 – Wyatt Heilbrun – 74

Novice girls

9 – Timberlee Easton – 54

Novice boys

11 – Mason McClun – 65