Gowanda trap team is right on target
Submitted Photo Madison Sternisha was recognized as the Gowanda trap team’s No. 3 shooter for the fall season and earned a medal for second place female shooter in Conference 4. She is a Top 100 shooter in New York State, ranked at 34.
Submitted Photo Pictured at Wednesday’s Gowanda Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson, center, and head coach Ryan Schwarzott, pictured far right, recognized the team’s top five members.
Submitted Photo Madison Sternisha was recognized as the Gowanda trap team’s No. 3 shooter for the fall season and earned a medal for second place female shooter in Conference 4. She is a Top 100 shooter in New York State, ranked at 34.
Submitted Photo Pictured at Wednesday’s Gowanda Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson, center, and head coach Ryan Schwarzott, pictured far right, recognized the team’s top five members.
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GOWANDA -- While many school districts have been combining athletic teams and reducing their number of clubs and extra-curricular activities, one particular group at Gowanda Central School is expected to double in size. Ranked number one in their conference with 10 students ranking in the state's Top 100, the Gowanda Trap Team is making national headlines. However, growing numbers create rising costs, which the coaches shared with school board members on Wednesday night.
Head coach and technology teacher Ryan Schwarzott was pleased to share his team's many victories from the fall season. He reported that the group had 24 student participants, one student manager and six volunteer coaches.
"We ranked number one in our conference for all of New York state," Schwarzott announced.
Trap team conferences are divided up according to team size, not location, so in conference 4, Gowanda competes against teams from the Adirondacks, Albany, central New York and the Eden-Holland district.
"We are expecting 40 or more students for the spring season," he predicted.
As part of the program, Schwarzott teaches hunter education classes on March 4 and 5, which satisfies the New York State High School Clay Target League requirement. Even the League has continued to grow, Schwarzott pointed out, as approximately 70 school districts are expected to compete this season, up from 59 districts this past fall.
Schwarzott then recognized the team's top five students. The team's highest shooter is sophomore Cameron Wight, who earned two medals from New York state for first place in the conference and overall highest average in conference 4. Following the fall season, he is ranked fourth in New York state.
Senior Connor Wight was the team's number two shooter for the fall season. Wight was recognized in PullUSA magazine last summer for ranking in the top 100 (no. 47) in the state after only a single season on the team. He is now ranked number 14 in New York state. Madison Sternisha was the team's number three shooter for the fall season and earned a medal for second place female shooter in conference 4. She, too, is a Top 100 shooter in New York state, ranked at 34. Junior Hunter Laskey, another Top 100 shooter in New York at 40, ranks fourth on Gowanda's team. TJ Ackley, a freshmen, is fifth on Gowanda's team and ranks in the Top 100 in New York at 42. All five of these students placed in the Top 10 in their conference, too.
Ron Wight, one of the volunteer coaches, approached the board. "I am respectfully requesting consistent funding for the trap team," he stated. He explained that as the team grows, expenses grow. "We were told the school was going to match what they gave us last year, but that is only about two-thirds of what we need," Wight said. "We do fundraising, but it's also a small community. We have to rely on the same people and the same businesses to fund us year after year."
Board member Janet Vogtli asked Wight how much the team needed. Wight said the projected cost for the upcoming spring season is $18,400, which includes money for the top five students to travel to the state competition. According to the coaches, the school provided $12,300 from the school for the most recent season.
Vogtli asked Superintendent Dr. Robert Anderson how funds are allocated to the different school groups. School business administrator Barb Smith pointed out that this year is different, as the team is now considered a club, instead of an athletic team, per the New York State Athletic Association.
"Because they're a club, typically they wouldn't receive the kind of funding they're getting," she said. Anderson added that the school felt it was important to continue supporting the club in the same way, despite changes in the state's recognition of their status.
Board President Cindy Sutherland asked the coaches how their fundraising efforts are progressing. Wight reported that the club account has approximately $900 and that the club is selling bumper stickers and hosting a can drive on March 9. TriState Firearms is hosting a gun raffle, and plans to donate 100 percent of the proceeds to the club, which they are hoping raises $3,000. Board members unanimously agreed that the club is deserving of additional funding to help close the gap. Board member Mark Nephew pointed out, "It's a worthwhile endeavor, especially if they have the numbers."
Sutherland agreed, "It's something that's been a need that some students just didn't have with other programs." In particular, the club is open to sixth grade students who are 12 or older, and according to Schwarzott, there are very few school clubs available to students at that grade level.
"I really like the family focus of this club," Sutherland added. "That is very positive." Schwarzott agreed, saying all of the parents stay and watch their children at every practice, even in snowy 10-degree weather.
Gun raffle tickets are limited to 300 and the cost is $20 per ticket. The raffle will take place on Saturday, May 4 on the team's Facebook page. For more information about the trap team, including fundraisers and raffles, visit gowandatrap.wordpress.com.