The Fredonia team photo includes, kneeling from left: Noah Dubois, Evan Cook, and Drake Joy. The check-holding row includes: Sons of American Legion Commander Rodney Dziduch, team treasurer Aidan Kinney, Lucie Katta, Team Vice President Chelsea Pierce, and Mason Tomaszewski, SAL Cody Britton. Standing are Head Coach Jerry Kinney , Coach Paul Turo, Thane Turo, Lucius Kralik, Gibson Way, Garret Lesch, RJ Koopman, Coach Craig Sullivan, Brayden Fabiano, Coach Joshua Pierce and Coach Kevin Malkowski. Not present were coaches Dan Tomaszewski and Brandon Mead as well as students team President Olivia Balch, Nathan Balch, Jacksen McFarland, Jethduan Cordova Olmo.

Recently, the Sons of the American Legion donated $500 to the Fredonia trap team.

Established in the spring of 2023, Head Coach Jerry Kinney made a powerpoint presentation to the Fredonia school board about the USA Clay Target league that runs the program. The board voted unanimously to approve the team. Fredonia was approximately the 135th school entered into the league. It has now grown to nearly 180 schools in New York.

Asher McNatt, a 2023 Fredonia graduate, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship through the USA Clay Target league. At the state competition in Cicero, Mason Tomaszewski was awarded top gun and first place varsity. Aidan Kinney was awarded second place JV. As a team, the group took third place.

In 2024 Fredonia competed in the Western New York school competition with Lexi Wright, Chelsea Pierce, Kyle Pierce, Daniel Cook and Connor Sullivan. The Fredonia team took first place. The Pierces took first place male and female. At states, the JV team took first place among 50-plus schools.

Last spring the Fredonia varsity team came in fifth place overall at states. Olivia Balch was awarded first place novice. Typically, Fredonia takes the third place finish in the season conference they are placed in on a yearly basis. Hanover Fish and Game club is the home field for the team and is a difficult location to shoot because of constant wind from various directions. The coaches believe this is what makes the students stand out at competitions because of more adverse conditions. Typically trap fields are flat with a solid background to track birds. This is not the case at Hanover.

The team will use 70-80 flats of shells this season at a cost of $5,600 to $6,400. Donations and a team raffle have successfully paid for shells since the inception of the team. The fall season begins in September and ends at the end of October. Spring begins mid March with kids shooting in snow covered conditions and ends at the end of May.

Kinney stated: “Trap works out very well for kids who are not the typical baseball, football, soccer kids. It allows them to participate in a team and individual sport. They are able to socialize outside of a school setting.”

Anyone wishing to also donate may send their donations to: Fredonia Central School Trap Team, Attn: High School Office, 425 East Main St, Fredonia, NY 14063