By Tonya Harmon
Contributing Writer
The Britton-Hecla and Langford Area High School trap team capped off an outstanding season with an impressive showing at the USA Clay Target League High School National Championship in Mason, MI, competing against approximately 1,800 of the nation’s top high school trap shooters.
The team qualified for the National Championship Finals after posting a score of 466 during team qualifying, finishing 53rd overall to earn a spot among the top 80 teams in the nation. In the finals, the team improved its score to 478, finishing an outstanding 19th in the nation.
The championship also featured several impressive individual milestones. Dylan Harmon fired a remarkable 100 straight, Hunter Jensen recorded 75 straight, Camden Dinger shot 50 straight, and both Talon Dinger and Abel Henning each recorded 25 straight during the competition.
Three local shooters advanced to the individual finals after qualifying among the top 400 shooters in the nation.
Harmon closed out his high school trap shooting career in spectacular fashion by shooting a perfect 100 straight in the individual finals, earning a ninth place finish after a shoot-off with 15 other 100 straights. His flawless performance placed him among the elite trap shooters in the country and marked an incredible ending to his high school career.
Jensen also had an exceptional tournament, finishing 57th nationally with a score of 98, while Camden Dinger earned 244th place with a score of 95.
The team’s success was the result of months of hard work, dedication, and teamwork. Along with the individual finalists, Talon Dinger and Abel Henning proudly represented Britton-Hecla and Langford Area on the national stage and contributed to the team’s outstanding performance.
A special thank you goes to the team’s coaching staff - Dennis Nelson, Dana Vorachek, Levi Dinger, and Corey Dawson - for the countless hours they devoted throughout the season. Their leadership, encouragement, and commitment to developing these student-athletes played a vital role in the team’s success on the national stage.
The team would also like to extend its heartfelt appreciation to the parents, volunteers, sponsors, and the many surrounding communities whose unwavering support made this season possible. From fundraising efforts and donations to words of encouragement and cheering from the sidelines, your generosity and support have been instrumental in the success of this program. Without your continued support, opportunities like competing on the national stage would not be possible.
With a Top-20 team finish, an individual Top-10 national finisher, and multiple athletes achieving impressive straight-run milestones, the Britton-Hecla and Langford Area trap team has much to celebrate. The athletes represented their schools and communities with pride, sportsmanship, and determination, creating memories and accomplishments that will last a lifetime.
