Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Shotnados shine at AIM Trap Championships
SPARTA, Ill. — The AIM National Youth Trapshooting Championship was held July 27-31, 2023, at the World Shooting & Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois. This competition brings in the best of the best of youth trap shooters around the country, and several of the area youth traveled there to compete as individuals and teams in the various events.
Big Creek Shotnados, organized by Brett Johnson and Jim Smith, had 12 area youth as participants. Jenna Smith of Southeastern Community College, Maddie Caston (SCC/Lindenwood), Abram Lorence (SCC), Morgan Hodge (Wilton Trap team/ William Penn), Addison McGehearty (Mt. Pleasant trap team), Izaac Zihlman(Mt. Pleasant trap team), Mason Yocum (Mt. Pleasant trap team), Landon Yocum (Mt. Pleasant trap team), Kaden Hodge (Wilton Trap team), Roen Bailey (Mt. Pleasant trap team), Zack Calhoun (New London trap team) and Alex Calhoun (New London trap team) all competed.
The competition started out with 200 Sporting Clays. Mason Yocum brought home 3rd place Sub Junior after winning his shoot off in a three-way tie shoot off.
In the 100 Handicaps Competition on Saturday, Landon Yocum bringing home seventh place in the Pre Sub category and Smith brought home High lady Jr. gold and 5th place overall.
The 100 Doubles competition ended up with Abram Lorence winning the Junior Gold runner-up award.
Singles were shot Sunday and Monday. The Junior Gold team consisting of Smith, Caston, Lorence, Morgan Hodge and Zilhman took 1st place.
The Junior squad tied for third, but with the tie breaker ended up in fourth, which put them out of the medaling. The Junior squad consisted in Kaden Hodge, Mason Yocum, Bailey, McGeherty and Landon Yocum.
Individual awards went to Calhoun with 3rd place overall in the pre-sub junior singles and Morgan Hodge as Junior Gold Class B Champion.
For Zilhman and McGeherty, the competition did not end with the AIM Grand Nationals. They stayed in Sparta to compete in the ATA Grand American shooting in daily competitions from Aug. 2-12 against shooters of all ages from all over the world. Addison’s father, Tom, competed in some of the events as well.
Mason Yocum and Izaac Zihlman represented Iowa in the Champion of Champion singles competition on Aug. 9, at the Grand. They both were awarded this opportunity due to winning the Iowa State ATA singles competition in July in Cedar Falls. Izaac was the sole shooter during that competition to shoot 200/200 making him the overall champion. Mason won the Sub Junior category with a 198/200.
In the Champion of Champion shoot at the Grand, Zihlman shot 100/100 ending him in a tie carrying over to the Singles Championship for the tie breaker on August 10. Mason Yocumalso ended in a tie in Sub Juniors shooting a 98/100 with the tie breaker carrying over to August 10. McGeherty also shot on August 10.
