By Chrissy Segrest
Elm Staff Writer
The Washington College Trap and Skeet team took first place against Merchant Marine Academy hosted at home at the Sudlersville Skeet Club on Sunday, Jan. 27.
Senior Danielle Murdock had a stellar performance, coming in first in the entire competition.
WC took seven of the top eight places in the skeet event, winning by 65 points to make the score 314-249.
Murdocks total score of 134— 69 targets in the trap discipline and 65 in the skeet discipline— tied sophomore Nathaniel Neuland for first place in the competition. Murdock and Neuland had a one-on-one shoot off for first place, with Murdock taking the trophy and Neuland falling into the silver metal category.
“This was the first time we have ever done a head-to-head match against another school,” Murdock said. “[Because of this] there was far less pressure, which let me go out and just have fun.”
In every varsity-status competition so far, the Trap and Skeet team has been one of several teams at a larger-scale competition rather than one v. one matches.
Freshman Will Sears had a notable performance for himself, coming in fourth overall. He broke 65 targets in the trap discipline,
which allowed him to tie for fifth place in that category. He also broke 63 targets in the skeet discipline, which let him place one spot higher.
Senior Brendan Demas of Fairhaven, Md. finished in sixth place, breaking a total of 118 targets in both trap and skeet and came in third and fourth places in the disciplines respectively.
Freshman Lanning Tyrrel finished in eighth place overall, breaking 114 targets while sophomore Camerin Caraballo broke only one less target, taking ninth place. Junior Savannah Ross broke 102 targets, earning her 12th place.
Freshman Sammy DiLoreto came in 15th place, scoring 88 points in the trap and skeet disciplines.
“This has been a great learning experience… my greatest accomplishment so far is improving from where I started in September,” DiLoreto said. “I look forward to more improvements and continuing to set goals to push myself. I do think our [team’s] success will continue. We are fresh off a nice break and ready to get back to practicing and preparing for Nationals. The addition to our coaching staff will be beneficial in providing a new perspective and more learning opportunities for the team.”
The next competition will take place on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m. at home versus Navy.