Minot State University
10/24/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/24/2024 14:38
Trap shooting taking off at Minot State
By Michael Linnell
University Communications Director
MINOT, N.D. - Collegiate trap shooting is in its infancy at Minot State University.
According to Lane Evenson and Bailey Upgren, the sky's the limit for Minot State Trap Shooting Club.
The talented duo is a big reason why.
"I'm excited for this season and excited to go to the shoots we are going to as a team," Upgren said. "It has already been a good season. We have people in the club who are experienced, and some are new to shooting, and that makes it fun to be a part of this new group."
"It's been super exciting to be on the forefront of this club," Evanson added. "We have been more stable this year, and we hope to continue that. It's exciting to go to events as a full team, put a uniform on, and represent Minot State."
Evenson and Upgren are both juniors at Minot State, studying computer science and early childhood education, respectively. But their paths to MSU and trap shooting for the Beavers couldn't be more different.
Evanson, the president of the club this year and one of the original proponents to bring trap shooting to MSU, started at Minot State out of high school, graduating from Berthold High School. After getting to MSU, he inquired about starting a club to continue a successful high school career.
"I started in seventh grade, so pretty early on, and got to shoot in all sorts of competitions around the state and even out to Wisconsin and Michigan," he said. "I was fortunate enough to have shot at national a couple of times. So, I asked about it when I visited Minot State, what is the process to start a club? I'd heard rumors there was interest, but I wasn't sure.
"We started it last year, and I think we had seven people involved. I got voted as the president and have been working on growing it ever since."
Upgren, on the other hand, started at Bismarck State College after high school and sought out a school that had trap shooting as part of her decision to attend. After finishing her two-year degree at BSC, she again looked for trap shooting to complement her degree in early childhood education.
She had two tours set up when picking a school but canceled her second tour after visiting Minot State.
"There are only two in the state that have what I wanted, so I figured I would look at both, but after touring here and meeting with Lane and some of the other guys on the team and the early childhood education department, I literally canceled my other trip on the drive home," Upgren said. "It was exciting to see the direction the brand-new team was taking, and finding out about the club made my decision to transfer a lot easier."
Club advisor Paul Brekke, who is Minot State's Wellness Center director, feels the duo has helped the club move significantly forward.
"The club is starting its second year of existence and figuring some details out as we go along," he said. "The students are happy to have the opportunity to participate and want to see it grow. Lane and Bailey have great experiences in the sport that will help with the evolution and growth of the club."
While their path to MSU differs, the beginning in trap shooting is similar. Both grew up hunting and were familiar with shooting sports. For Upgren, transitioning from hunting to competition was a learning curve but something she fell in love with.
"I've struggled a little with technique because I'm left dominate and shoot right-handed," she said. "I had a friend in high school who was super good at skeet shooting and convinced me to go out. By my senior year, it was something I really loved to do, and I know I would always want to be involved in."
Evanson credits his dad for getting him interested in trap shooting.
"I was first taught by my dad, and he coached and worked with me throughout high school," he said. "He really helped me get better at trap and shooting at events, and eventually, I really found a passion for it."
Both Evanson and Upgren believe you need a passion for the sport, especially when pursuing it at the collegiate club level, where practices and competitions are nearly all student organized. Minot State has one part-time coach, Jake Thrailkill, along with Brekke, but mainly relies on students to run the club.
"I hope to see the program grow so we can add more coaches and add more structure, but it has been a great program to begin with," Evanson said. "We have one coach now who has helped us tremendously, and Paul is great to work with; we really appreciate both of them. But, we hope to have more coaches to give us more opportunities to succeed and grow as shooters in the future."
"We do a ton of scheduling and work to get to practices or shoots; there isn't necessarily a coach or someone pushing us to be at practice," Upgren said. "You have to be self-motivating to get to the shoots on your own, and there is a lot of character involved, to be honest, in recording your scores and all that."
Growing the club will take work from the current members, but the duo both witnessed growth in their local clubs in high school and see tremendous potential for MSU.
"There are so many people that I know that are interested in shooting sports, a ton of shooters coming up through high schools in the Bismarck area," Upgren said. "Having this club will only attract more people to MSU, and we hope to pave the way for this to be a fun, exciting club to be a part of."
They both also know there is growth potential in the community.
"We are working on some fundraisers and ways to get our name out in the community," Evanson said. "We are even working on doing some volunteering in the community because we feel community is everything. You need to have the community behind you to be successful."
While the duo has been integral to the club's success, Evanson also believes the entire group is pitching in to make this a successful year.
"This club, because it's in the early stages, is all hands on deck," he said. "Everyone has a role to fill in helping it grow and get more connected with the community. What they do for the club is incredibly important."
Minot State's fall roster includes Trinity Boivin, Holter Bridwell, Logan Dosko, Ryan Kostenko, Peyton Lammerding, Mason Lemer, Dakota McGee, Kirstin Nelson, Kaile Nodland, Hadyn Schuler, and Tayton Vondra, along with Evanson and Upgren.
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
Published: 10/24/24