As the quarter comes to a close and we start to move into spring, the spring sports season is on many people’s minds. Along with sports like track, softball, tennis, golf and baseball, for the sixth year in a row Notre Dame will have a Trap Team. 

Open to students with any level of experience, the Trap Team offers a great opportunity for students to shoot trap. 

“Using a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun, students shoot at a clay target as it’s flying through the air, with the goal of hitting it,” described Anne Waystedt, one of the coaches of NDA’s trap team along with Elmer Waystedt. 

A typical evening of trap practice includes students shooting two rounds of 25 targets each, with scoring based on the number of targets they hit out each round of 25. 

The team shoots Monday evenings at the New Frankenstein Sportsman’s Club, and the season is made of two weeks of practice, a reserve week, five weeks of competition, and their “Fun Week Shoot.” In addition, students can compete in the state competition in June if they choose and are placed in leagues based on their performance throughout the season. 

The Trap Team works hard to accommodate students in other activities, with Waystedt explaining that they create the schedule, and as a result are able to have students shoot earlier or later in the evening if they have other activities. 

Students are required to take a Wisconsin-certified Hunter’s Safety Course,which can be taken online. The $175 registration fee covers shells, targets, range fees and the Trap Team t-shirt, meaning the only other thing students need to provide is their shotgun. 

“There are many reasons for students to join the trap team,” explained Waystedt. “Some student athletes grow up shooting and/or hunting and are looking for a way to do it competitively in a team sport environment. For many student athletes this is their only opportunity to earn a varsity letter in a sport.  It’s a fairly inexpensive sport and hobby that the entire family can do together.” 

For those who aren’t able to participate but still want to support the Trap Team, spectators are welcome to watch their meets. 

“We love spectator visitors,” said Waystedt. “Fifty rounds of shooting lasts 30-45 minutes, so it’s not too bad of a spectator sport.  Ear protection is encouraged but not required for spectators.”