Matthew Nowell, right, and Coach Mike O’Neill at the Albuquerque Trap Club after Nowell received the Iron Man trophy. Courtesy photo

LOS ALAMOS YOUNG GUNS NEWS RELEASE

Former Los Alamos Young Guns shotgun athlete and Los Alamos High School alumnus Matthew Nowell traveled Jan 18 to the Albuquerque Trap Club and won the open class in the First Ironman Competition ever held in New Mexico. Nowell is currently pursuing a degree in Justice, Political Philosophy, Law and Law Ethics at New Mexico State University.

The competition required Nowell to shoot 50 singles, 50 25-yard handicap, 50 21-yard doubles. 50 five stand 10 Helice targets. (Helice is a competitive shotgun sport that uses plastic targets that fly erratically). Nowell competed later in the day when shooting conditions worsened due to the drop in temperature and increase in wind speed. He had a stellar performance on five stand where he broke 49 out of 50 targets.

Other Los Alamos competitors were Coach Vernon Vigil, former Young Guns athlete Alyssa Vigil, and current Young Guns team members Kadin Hansel, Colton Hollander and Sam Nowell.

For more information on the youth shotgun program at Los Alamos Sportsmen’s Club, call Mike O’Neilll, (505) 309-1762 or email shotgunoneill@gmail.com.