Jody Martin ran out of superlatives to describe the performance of the Ankeny Centennial trap shooting team at the recent national competition in Marengo, Ohio.
“Plain and simple, this is an amazing team and we had an amazing season,” said Martin, the team’s coach. “To think that this team won a record 16 team trophies at state and had the varsity, junior varsity and intermediates all win first place singles team trophies, only to then to follow that up with a record 15 team trophies and 12 individual medals at nationals? What a performance…what a team!
“We may not have accomplished our goal in singles with a national team title but boy did this team perform on the biggest stage of the year. What makes this team’s accomplishments even more special is that over 3,600 athletes from 32 states competed at nationals this year, making it the largest shooting event the Amateur Trapshooting Association has ever been a part of since its inception back in 1900.”
Here are the nationals Jaguar trap team and individual highlights:
Doubles:
Intermediate Entry 2nd Place Squad
Intermediate Advanced 2nd Place Squad
JV 1st Place Squad
Senior Varsity 2nd Place Squad
Doubles Individual Medal Winners:
Chase Martin – 3rd
Jackson Miller – 3rd
Allie Lensch – 3rd
Erin Neppl – 2nd
Handicap:
Intermediate Entry 2nd Place Squad
Intermediate Advanced 1st Place Squad
JV 1st Place Squad
Senior Varsity 2nd Place Squad
Senior Varsity 3rd Place Squad
Handicap Individual Medal Winners:
Kyle Melcher – 2nd
Jackson Miller – 3rd
Kael Richmond – 2nd
Ava Lensch – 2nd
Allie Lensch – 2nd
Leah Hofstadter – 2nd
Singles:
Intermediate Entry 3rd Place Squad
Intermediate Advanced 3rd Place Squad
Senior Varsity 2nd Place Squad
High School Team 2nd Place
Singles Individual Medal Winner:
Jackson Miller – 4th
High School HOA:
4th Place Cup (Singles, Sporting Clays and Skeet Combined)
Trap HOA:
2nd Place Cup (Singles, Handicap and Doubles Combined)
HOA Individual Medal Winner:
Ava Lensch – 5th Place Ladies Int. HOA
“High School HOA (Top 5 Athletes Scores in Skeet, Sporting Clays and Singles) was an event that I thought we were not quite ready to compete in on a national level,” Martin said. “But as usual this team proved me wrong. To collect a fourth place cup in this event is a testament to the time these athletes and parents put in this past season to the skeet and sporting clays disciplines. We know how much time is dedicated to trap but to win this HOA trophy is very special and truly shows the level of talent on this team.
“Trap HOA second place cup will be remembered as being very special also because it was a total team effort. When the JV and varsity team needed some help in handicap, four athletes from IA stepped up and shot amazing handicap scores to contribute four of the top five HC team scores to secure second place. It was an awesome effort!
“HOA events are also where the Midway Endowment money is! Bottom line, the efforts of this team learning and mastering multiple shooting disciplines is paving the way for future Jaguar shooting sports athletes to join this wonderful sport and get some sizable help financially. Jaguar Trap collected $7,000 from the two HOA team awards that will be deposited into the Jags Midway Endowment account.
“Lastly, I want to thank the parents and coaches again for all their efforts this season. Without them volunteering untold amounts of hours and money into this program we would not be achieving what I outlined above; giving these amazing athletes an opportunity to compete against the best the nation has to offer. The lessons these athletes are learning through the shooting sports will pay huge dividends for them later in life. I absolutely love being their head coach,” Martin added.