COLCHESTER, Ill. (WGEM) - After a year of West Prairie High School's trap shooting team being recognized as an official school sport, popularity and involvement among students has continued to skyrocket.
Now, with over 30 students participating, trap shooting is one of the district's most popular sports.
Before being recognized as an official school sport, the trap shooting team was an activity as a part of the district's FFA chapter.
Lead by Corinne Biswell, an instructional coach in the district, the team has a fall and spring season. Students follow the same eligibility requirements as all other student-athletes.
"You kind of become one family, and say you had a bad day at school, you get to come here and have fun," West Prairie junior Kenadie Webster said.
Coaches record weekly scores, upload them to the Illinois State High School Clay Target League's website weekly during five competition weeks, and rankings and placings are published with awards for individuals and teams at the end of the season.
Right now, the team is preparing for the state tournament in Bunker Hill, Illinois. Teams are classified based on team size rather than school size.
For WPHS senior Mikey Kitch, it gives him the chance to expand on skills he learned growing up.
"We always had a machine at the house, so me and my dad on Sundays, we'd just get it out and start shooting birds and this was an opportunity to take it up to the next level," Kitch said.
The 85-school league is overseen by state directors and is recognized as an emerging sport with the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).
West Prairie trap shooting team members first start with extensive safety courses before being allowed to compete.
An additional safety measure that West Prairie takes is how students are organized into "flights" that shoot at different scheduled times throughout the week. This allows coaches to focus on the five competing athletes without managing the other 30-plus students waiting.
The team practices at the Argyle Trap Range just north of Colchester.