Gateway Gun Club was buzzing with excitement as shooters from across the region gathered for an ATA Registered Trapshooting Competition. Among the standout performers were several young athletes from the Lafayette Patriots Shooting Team who not only brought home awards but also reached personal milestones in their shooting careers.
Co-captain Colton McKinney led the charge with a dominant performance, securing titles in multiple disciplines. He claimed the Junior Singles Champion, Overall Handicap Champion, Class B Doubles Champion, and wrapped up the day as the Class A High Overall Champion—a remarkable all-around achievement.
Co-captain Ellie Schweizer also had an outstanding showing in the Lady 1 division, winning Lady 1 Singles and Lady 1 Handicap Champion honors. Her strong performance continued with a Class C Doubles Champion title and the Class B High Overall Champion award.
In addition to the headline victories, the day was filled with other noteworthy accomplishments:
- Ethan Wicks turned in a solid performance in singles, posting a score of 95.
- Sam Rice celebrated a personal milestone by shooting 25 straight in singles for the first time.
- Gavin DeLisi, in his inaugural competition, impressed with an 87 in singles.
- Grant Evans took a major step forward by competing in all three disciplines—singles, handicap, and doubles—for the first time in a registered event.
One of the biggest highlights came from the Patriots Red Squad—comprising Colton McKinney, Ellie Schweizer, Ethan Wicks, Chase Gantner, and Payne McKinney—who made team history. Together, they shot a near-perfect 123 out of 125 targets in their first round, setting a new record for the highest single-round score in Patriots Team history.