By Jack Poleto
Sports Editor
The Washington College trap and skeet team won the Collegiate Upper East Coast Conference championship High Over All title for the second year in a row.
This competition took place at the Prince George’s County Trap and Skeet Center from Friday, Nov. 3 to Sunday, Nov. 5 in Glenn Dale, Md. At the CUECC Championships, the Shoremen faced 10 large schools: University of Maryland, the United States Naval Academy, Clemson University, James Madison University, Clarkson University, Georgia Southern University, the University of Delaware, the University of Virginia, the United States Military Academy, and Virginia Polytechnic and State University.
“Winning the Conference Championship for the second year in a row has been tremendous,” junior Katie Opielski said. “Our team is small this year, which means everyone has to be on for every event to put up a great team score, and we did just that.”
Senior Gage Williams took first place Doubles American Skeet, hitting 45 of 50 clay targets, closely followed by his teammates, sophomore Chris Johnson and junior Hunter Clark, who recorded 43 and 41 respectively. Senior Carter Weems placed fifth in the event, hitting 38 of 50.
Williams earned Shoreman of the Week for his performances.
Clark won Doubles American Trap, hitting 41 of 50, and Weems followed in fourth, hitting 39 of 50.
Williams placed thirteenth in American Trap, hitting 93 of 100 clay targets, while Clark was twenty-first after hitting 91. Williams also placed sixth in Super Sporting, hitting 41 of 50.
“Any athletic team with incoming freshmen will agree that every time you bring on a new member it is important to integrate them into the culture and we have had to really work on this as a team,” Williams said. “With new team members and with some of us never competing before we had to grow together very quickly in order to help each other when it comes time to practice or compete.”
Opielski placed first in Women’s Double American Skeet and Women’s Double American Trap, hitting 37 out of 50 clay targets and 35 of 50 respectively. She also placed third in Women’s Super Sporting, hitting 30 of 50 targets.
According to Opielski, the team is still young, but those who are early in their trap and skeet careers have dedicated themselves to becoming better.
“Everyone has improved not only in score, but also managing the mental aspect of the sport. The team dedicated themselves to their craft this season,” Opielski said.
According to Opielski, the upperclassmen on the team also made a concerted effort to mentor and teach the younger members which in turn helps the veterans.
“Trap & Skeet has community days throughout the year where we invite people from the campus community to come and learn about what we do and to learn how to shoot clay targets,” Opielski said. “I highly recommend anyone who is curious about what we do to come out and keep an open mind.”
The team’s next big competition is in San Antonio, Tex., from Mar. 18 to Mar. 23 at the ACUI National Championships.
Photo Caption: Senior Gage Williams takes aim at a clay target.
Photo courtesy of WC Athletics.