TRAP SHOOTING & 5-STAND: Clark Fork, Valor Christian impressive at state championship meet

Wampus Cats crack Top 10

KUNA — Clark Fork's Curtis Sommerfeld finished tied for 19th out of 70 competitors in the varsity male division with a score of 88 out of 100 to lead the Wampus Cats to a 10th-place finish out of 17 scoring teams at the Idaho Trap Shooting State Championship held Saturday at the Boise Gun Club.

Tristin Mackaben added a score of 85 and finished 31st in the varsity male division. Kyler Heilman placed 50th with a score 80, also in the varsity male division, and Breckham Noble shot an 81 and tied for eighth out of 38 competitors in the junior varsity male division for Clark Fork, which finished with a team total of 401 points. Rounding out the Wampus Cats' scorers was Rebecca Heilman, who finished with a score of 67 and placed 14th in the junior varsity female division.

On the season overall, in addition to Noble's perfect 25/25 round, Sommerfeld, Kyler Heilman and Wade Taylor also achieved such a feat. Rebecca Heilman was awarded a silver medal for finishing second overall in the 1A Conference 1 season standings — she shot an average round of 18.90 throughout the year to earn the hardware.

Royals impressive in debut

KUNA — In their debut season, the Valor Christian shotgun team walked away with top honors in the 5-Stand shooting competition's novice division in what was the Royals' first time ever competing at the Idaho 5-Stand and Trap Shooting State Championship held Saturday at the Boise Gun Club. 

Ryder Raposa, Tanner Thompson, and James Harlicker claimed first, second, and third place, respectively, to sweep the podium in the Novice 5-Stand event — a remarkable achievement for a first-year team.

Raposa also placed second out of 13 competitors in the trap shooting competition's novice division with a team-best score of 79 out of 100. Tanner Thompson added a 14th-place finish out of 38 competitors in the junior varsity male division, finishing with a score of 76. Wyatt Buday rounded out the Royals' top finishers, posting a score of 68 to place 24th in the junior varsity male division.

Coming into the season, Valor Christian's expectations were modest, but were far exceed after a season full of training, discipline, teamwork, passion and camaraderie.

“These students have worked incredibly hard, shown exceptional focus, and represented Valor with character and humility,” coach Eric Thompson said. “To have three (students) place in the top three of a statewide event in their first year is a testament to their commitment and natural talent.” 

With their inaugural season behind them and several medals already in hand, the team is wasting no time resting on their success. According to coach Thompson, preparations for next season are already underway, with more students expressing interest in joining and building on the strong foundation laid by this year’s team. 

TRAP SHOOTING TEAM SCORES — 1, Kootenai 459 (94-92-92-92-89). 2, Skyline 458 (94-92-92-91-89). 3, West Side 439 (93-91-85-85-85). 4, Timberlake 435 (90-88-86-86-85). 5, Greenleaf Friends Academy 433 (92-90-87-83-81). 6, Rocky Mountain 428 (91-87-84-83-83). 7, Marsing 425 (95-91-83-79-77). 8, Bonners Ferry 417 (87-87-83-82-78). 9, Middleton 415 (91-91-85-74-74). 10, Clark Fork 401 (88-85-81-80-67). 11, Potlatch 397 (90-86-83-76-62). 12, Parma 393 (87-83-83-79-61). 13, Payette 388 (85-83-80-71-69). 14, Nampa Christian 375 (85-77-74-71-68). 15, Lewiston 373 (79-77-76-71-70). 16, St. Maries 367 (91-72-72-71-61). 17, Valor Christian 301 (79-76-68-54-24).

TRAP SHOOTING DIVISION WINNERS

(Top three, locals)

NOVICE MALE — 1, Brayden Perelli-Minetti, Greenleaf Friends Academy, 83. 2, Ryder Raposa, Valor Christian, 79. 3, Aaron Michelsen, Bonners Ferry, 73. 11, Landon Thompson, Clark Fork, 45. 12, Eli Harris, Valor Christian, 24.

NOVICE FEMALE — 1, Wisteria Mulford, Potlatch, 76. 2, Kinzley Schmillen, Greenleaf Friends Academy, 74 (reverse run: 3). 3, Emily Barton, Skyline, 74 (reverse run: 0).

JR. VARISTY MALE — 1, Oliver, Klinge, The Ambrose School, 92. 2, Brigham Barton, Skyline, 87 (reverse run: 27). 3, Nate Birch, Skyline, 87 (reverse run: 3). t-8, Breckham Noble, Clark Fork, 81. t-14, Tanner Thompson, Valor Christian, 76. t-24, Wyatt Buday, Valor Christian, 68. 38, James Harlicker, Valor Christian, 54.

JR. VARISTY FEMALE — 1, Ella Doyle, Greenleaf Friends Academy, 90. 2, Randi Hibbard, Bonners Ferry, 82. 3, Skylar Olson, Skyline, 78. 14, Rebecca Heilman, Clark Fork, 67.

VARISTY MALE — 1, Weston Woodward, Marsing, 95. 2, Jason Roberts, Skyline, 94 (reverse run: 13). 3, Titus Brown, Kootenai, 94 (reverse run: 0). t-19, Curtis Sommerfeld, Clark Fork, 88. t-31, Tristin Mackaben, Clark Fork, 85. t-50, Kyler Heilman, Clark Fork, 80. 70, Wade Taylor, Clark Fork, 51.

VARSITY FEMALE — 1, Audrey Jefferson, Skyline, 92. 2, Bobbie Freelove, Marsing, 91 (reverse run: 9). 3, Madison Bunn, West Side, 91 (reverse run: 1).

 2025 Clark Fork High graduate Rebecca Heilman shows off the silver medal she earned for placing second overall in the 1A Conference 1 season standings with a season average of 18.90 points per round.

    From left, James Harlicker, Tanner Thompson and Ryder Raposa of the Valor Christian School show off the medals they earned for sweeping the podium in the 5-Stand event's novice division at the Idaho Trap Shooting State Championship.