The NER/Babbitt Conservation Club finished up the trapshooting season with an extremely successful trip to Alexandria for the Minnesota High School Clay Target League Championships, involving students from both Northeast Range and Ely.
Competing in the 2A division, the varsity team was 14th out of 62 teams, with a team total of 455 points out of a possible 500.
Both the NER-Ely junior varsity and novice teams came home with first place trophies, with the JV scoring 453 points to top its next closest foe by 23 points.
The novice team chalked up 394 points to take first, beating the second-place team by 20 points.
“Our final placing as a team was ninth out of 62 teams,” said coach Julie Huseby. “Final team score takes into account the five highest scores no matter the division. We had a score of 466/500. Top team for the day was Wheaton High School with a team total of 488. That is an impressive score. ”
The league is set up so that schools of similar size compete against each other, with NER-Ely moving up to 2A this year, which includes teams with 20-25 participants.
“We had previously been in 1A but jumped up a section with increased participation,” said Huseby.
The team participated on Tuesday, June 10. Weather was great for shooting as there was little wind to start out the morning.
The team started out strong in the morning session with Noah Backe shooting a 49 out of 50 followed by Caden Roseth with a 48, JV shooters Talan Hart 48, Lucas Stalboerger 47, with Alyssa Ice and Ryland Sandy next at 45.
High novice shooters in the morning session were Thomas Hway with a 44 and Amelia Sandy with a 43. Roseth, Backe and Hart all shot perfect 25s.
The afternoon session started with really strong scores from the NRE-Ely contingent.
“As the day went on you could feel momentum building as the team seemed to really get its stride,” said Huseby.
Hunter Kosinski shot his first perfect 25 and then turned around and shot another 25 for his first-ever 50 out of 50.
Roseth started out with a perfect 25 and followed up with a 24 for a 49 score in the second session. Alyssa Ice shot a perfect 25 for her first perfect score and not to be outdone, her sister Hannah Ice, a novice shooter, also shot a perfect 25.
The top five scorers in each division are used to compile the team score.
NRE-Ely had five shooters win individual awards.
Hway was top male novice shooter with a score of 86. Amelia Sandy also shot a 86 and was the third female in novice division.
Stalboerger was top JV male with a score of 92. Following with a 91 and top female shooter was Alyssa Ice. Ryland Sandy also shot a 91 and was 3rd place male.
Top placing for Varsity was Roseth with a 97 which tied him for 10th place.
Overall scores were: Varsity: Caden Roseth, 97; Backe, 95; Kamryn Bregier-Beno, 89; Else Bee, 88; Trynn Weisinger, 86; Peyton Roseth, 76; JV: Stalboerger, 92; Alyssa Ice, 91; Ryland Sandy, 91; Talan Hart, 90; Kosinski, 89; Garen Weisinger 84; Wyatt Carlson, 82; Carrington Kosinski, 81; Laydan Hart, 72; Novice Hway, 86; Amelia Sandy, 86; Hannah Ice, 84; Sabrah Hart, 73; Grady Anderson, 65; Sawyer Anderson, 57; Tracy Thibodeaux, 56; Blake Stalboerger, 36.
The team would like to recognize all sponsors who support the team, including:
• American Family Insurance/ Ely; Arrowhead Outdoors/Ely; Babbitt Lions Club; Benville Service/Carquest Cenex; D&D Accounting; Edge of Pines Designs; Ely Area Credit Union; Ely DQ Grill and Chill; Ely Flower and Seed; Fish Tails Tavern; Grand Ely Lodge; Hideaway Bar and Restaurant; Insula; Jimmy Z’s Sales; Joe Baltich Art; KJ’s; Lobo Leather; Lossing’s Building Center; Lucky Seven; Merhar’s Ace Hardware; Northern Expressions; Northshore Mining; Rasmussen Drywall and Painting; Razor Edge Systems; RMS; Rural Living Environment; Ryan Anderson Construction Services: Ely Short Stop Convenience Store; Timber Bay Lodge and Houseboats; Trapline Liquor; Twin Metals Minnesota: Voyageur Lumber: Weisinger Construction; z’Up North Realty; Zup’s Food Markets.
