STMA High School Varsity Trap Shooters Earn First at 2013 State Tournament

Competing against more than 100 high school teams, the St. Michael-Albertville High School varsity trap shooters earned a first place victory for the second year in a row at the Minnesota State High School Trapshooting Tournament.

The tournament took place in Alexandria June 7-9.

Competing June 7 in the novice level, first-year participants Calvin Reese, Austin Seidel, Collin Hanson, Alaina Felt, and Brendan Kolehmainen had a combined team total of 271 x 375 for a 13th place finish. Calvin Reese led the team with a score of 60 X 75.

The junior varsity competed June 8, finishing in 10th place with a total of 432 targets hit out of 500.  Andrew Lindenfelser led the junior varsity team with a score of 88 X 100, followed by Devin Domingo (87), Nick Norby (87), Allie Steffens (86), and Alyx Faust (84). 

The competition continued June 9 with the varsity team challenged with a day of mixed weather conditions, finishing with a first place victory in the tournament.

“STMA’s top five scores had lost 13 targets out of the first 250, netting a 237 X 250. This limited them to a potential top score for the day at 487 if the afternoon session went perfectly. While there was no improvement in the weather for the afternoon session, there was a massive improvement in the entire team’s scores,” Coach Scott Berning said. “During the second half of the competition, the STMA team’s top five scorers lost only 4 targets for a score of 246 X 250, ending with a 483 out of 500 to capture the title.”

Hastings High School finished two targets behind to earn second place followed by Hopkins High School in third.

For the varsity team, Tom Mavencamp led with a score of 98 X 100 followed by Colton Schoen (97), Tyler Ellison (97), Max Rooney (96), and Emma Olson (95).   

“It was really nice to see 45 of our team of 48 compete at the state tournament this year, and our staff is very proud of each and every one of them. Each week our team of 48 shows up to practice and compete, ready to work hard to better themselves as a team,” Berning said. “These kids have formed into a very focused team, with solid leadership from within. Nearly every single shooter scored above their season-long average while competing at the State Tournament. As a staff, we cannot ask for much more than that.”

Additional STMA High School Individual Accomplishments

Emma Olson

• State Tournament Individual Female Champion

• All Conference High Average – Female

• Conference 13A High Average – Female

Colton Schoen

• All Conference Average – Male

• All Conference High Average – Overall

• Conference 13A High Average – Male

Tommy Mavencamp

• State Tournament Fourth Place Tie - Overall Individual

“Our team will be graduating some key leaders, but with the performances of the novice and JV teams, in addition to returning varsity shooters, we have reason to be very optimistic that we have several who are ready to step up to be leaders and high end contributors at the varsity level next year,” Berning said.

The team was led by head Coach Scott Berning and assistant coaches Al Cleveland, Shawn Dutton, Alex Steffens, Ted Steffens, Dennis Berning, Erik Felt, Dave Olson, and Larry Lindahl. The team manager was Joyce Olson.

Editor’s note: Team, individual results provided by Scott Berning