Trap & Skeet Club Aims to Give Back
Posted: February 25, 2015 at 9:56 pm, Last Updated: March 11, 2015 at 12:48 pm
After the heaviest snowfall this winter, the Trap & Skeet Club arose early Wednesday morning and donned their warmest coats and gloves. The club set out to their usual practice facility, The Arlington Fairfax Chapter of The Izaak Walton League (IWL), in order to clear the snow from the trap and skeet fields. After clearing off three trap and skeet fields, the club was able to shoot almost twenty practice rounds, including one break for chili—provided by Coach Gary Olin.
The Trap & Skeet Club, founded in 1977, established a permanent home at the IWL in the 1980’s. (Fun Fact: the first Trap & Skeet Club Team had one member—Mike Thompson, who went on to compete in the 1983 Olympics as a skeet shooter.) The IWL is a private facility for members only, but allows Mason club members to come in and practice under the supervision of Coach Olin. Since the 1980’s, the IWL has welcomed Mason shooters, supported their growth, watched their National scores every March from home, and hosted the annual “Geezer Cup,” where Mason shooters compete against members for coveted prizes and bragging rights.
After Wednesday’s practice, the team prepared to head to Brooks, Kentucky where they would compete in an invitational tournament; however, the tournament was postponed—perhaps other clubs are not filled with professional Eskimos like Mason’s. Instead, this weekend the club will compete in a local skeet tournament and attempt to take advantage of the potentially warm weather on Sunday for practice.
The GMU Trap & Skeet Club extends a warm thank-you to The Izaak Walton League for its continued support and friendly competition! Be sure to follow them on Facebook and cheer them on as they prepare for Nationals in March!
by Hali Haskins