Los Alamos Young Guns members who competed in the 2021 New Mexico High School Clay Target Association State Championships were, from left. Ana Schmitz, Matthew Nowell, Morgan Catlin, Isabelle Robles, Sarah Randall, Alyssa Vigil, Donovan Allen, Rhyen Vigil, Gavin Robles and Rebecca Moss. Not pictured are Monica Smith and Chantry Stermer. Also pictured us Head Coach Mike O’Neill, far left. Photo by Barbara Vigil
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
Twelve members of the Los Alamos Young Guns competed in the 2021 New Mexico High School Clay Target Association State Championships May 7-9 at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton.
The athletes competed each month from October to April in satellite shoots at their home range at the Los Alamos Sportsmen’s Club and those scores were combined with the May 7-9 scores to determine placing.
Competing for the Los Alamos Young Guns were:
Donovan Allen, Los Alamos High School
Morgan Catlin, Los Alamos High School
Rebecca Moss, Los Alamos High School
Matthew Nowell, Los Alamos High School
Sarah Randall, Taos High School
Gavin Robles, Pojoaque Valley High School
Isabelle Robles, Pojoaque Valley High School
Ana Schmitz, Los Alamos High School
Monica Smith, Los Alamos High School
Chantry Stermer, Escalante High School
Alyssa Vigil, Pojoaque High School
Rhyen Vigil, Penasco High School
An addition to the state championship awards, shooters received awards for the satellite shoots they participated in.
A team consisting of Chantry Stermer, Morgan Catlin, Alyssa Vigil, Gavin Robles and Donovan Allen took third place for the 2020-2021 season.
“All 12 Los Alamos Young Guns shooter worked hard throughout the season and made great advances in their individual skills,” said Head Coach Mike O’Neill. “Despite all the COVID restrictions we enforced, they showed up for practices and satellite shoot culminating in the championship event.”
Team practices from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Los Alamos Sportsmen’s Club in Rendija Canyon. Shooters do not have to be Los Alamos residents. Membership fees for national youth shooting sports organizations cost about $80 a year. Ammunition and clays cost an average of $20 a week. A parent must accompany their athlete. A limited number of club shotguns are available for beginners to use. For more information, call (505) 309-1762.