According to Scholz, the organization started with about thirty members but many weren’t ready to put in the work that came with started up an organization. Now, the Shotgun Club has twelve paying members.

“There’s a $50 membership fee per semes-ter,” Scholz said. “It is the second cheapest, I believe, in the Midwest, for a shotgun club.”

According to Scholz, the club has to charge the fee because Western’s Shotgun Club is not associated with the athletic department. Therefore, the club is responsible for provid-ing insurance, along with prizes and trophies

once they start hosting competitions at West-ern.

Members of the club must also supply their own ammunition, gun and gear.

Because Western is a firearm-free campus, the members of the Shotgun Club keep their guns and ammunition off-campus at other members’ houses.

According to Matt Scholz, president of the Shotgun Club, there are three main col-legiate shotgun sports: trap, skeet and sport-ing clays.

The team is currently just competing in American trap shooting. Scholz said that he hopes the club eventually competes in both trap and skeet, or even all three of the col-

legiate shotgun sports.Sholz said that three members - he, Vice

President Jake Edwards and Coltin Ridenour - competed this summer at the World Cham-pionships, located in Sparta, Ill. Sholz took second place in his age division for trap and fifth in the high all-around, which includes singles trap, handicap trap and doubles trap.

Edwards set a personal record at the com-petition.

Although the club does not compete in skeet, Scholz said it is helpful for the club to shoot other disciplines to help break up the monotony of practice and learn new skills.

The grass has bright orange fragments of rock all over. Red shotgun shells litter the concrete.

“Pull!”In less than 5 seconds, a loud bang results

in a rock shattering and another happy smile from the shooter – a perfect round of trap shooting.

Where do you find this scene?Missouri Western’s Shotgun Club has been

an organization since October of 2013 and was recognized by the Student Government Association at the end of January 2014. The club practices at Western’s own trap range, located on the west campus grounds.

FEATURES Nov. 14, 2014

The Griffon NewsPage 4

The Missouri Western Shotgun Club has roughly twelve members. The club practices on Thursdays and Sundays at Western’s trap range. Taylor Allen | News Editor

Taylor Allen | News Editortallen13@missouriwestern.edu

SH TShotgun Club aims to grow and succeed

Matt ScholzPresident

MWSU Shotgun Club

• Began shooting in middle school• Certified shotgun coach• National 4-H Shooting Ambassador• Working on starting a shooting club in Buchanan County with 4-H

ExperienceAlong with being president of the club,

Sholz has his coaching certification for shot-guns. Some of the members of the club had no previous experience with firearms.

“It’s just been that coach’s mentality of be-ing able to prepare an individual to handle a firearm properly, being able to use a fire-arm in a safe manner, and understanding the power of and what is involved with using a firearm,” he said.

Edwards said that experience is not re-quired to join the Shotgun Club. He said that no matter the level of experience, all students should feel welcome.

“We have members that shot all their life and members that never shot before, so you don’t have to have experience to join,” Ed-wards said.

Joseph Hawkins, freshman member of the Shotgun Club, said he got involved with the group because he shot trap in high school and wanted to continue while furthering his education.

Hawkins said that he has continued to learn about shooting from the older members of the club. He also said he is excited for the future and wants more Griffons to become members.

“I hope to see more people get involved,” Hawkins said. “It’s fun. It’s super safe. There’s no reason not to.”

Scholz said that the club is definitely an educational experience.

“The Shotgun Club isn’t a bunch of red-necks going out and just shooting stuff,” Scholz said. “We’re an organized group.”

The organization of the group occurred last semester, when Scholz and the rest of the members completed paperwork to become recognized by multiple shooting organiza-tions.

Some of these organizations include the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Midway USA, Amateur Trapshooting Asso-ciation (ATA) and Academics, Intergrity, and Marksmanship (AIM).

CompetitionMembership

Organization