Jaydyn Backman and Wyatt Widman led all shooters with Washington County ties Friday and Saturday during the 55th annual Cornhusker Trap Shoot in Doniphan.
Backman, a Blair High School student and member of the Blair Youth Shooting Sports (BYSS) team, earned third among all female shooters taking aim from 16 yards after a shoot-off. She was 71-for-75 Friday, finishing just one clay pigeon out of first place. The event champion was Sara Allard of the Sidney Sharpshooters.
Widman, meanwhile, finished 16th in the high overall standings Saturday after two days of competition from 16 yards and then a handicap distance. A member of the Fremont Trap team and former Arlington Public Schools student, he shot down 141 of the 150 targets he faced in Doniphan.
The next five best Arlington marksmen were Kaleb Dowling, Jacob Vanek, John Von Behren, Zane Gerrish and Carter Olson. Dowling went 135-for-150 during the Cornhusker shoot, while Vanek — a member of the BYSS team — hit 129 targets and Von Behren took out 127. Gerrish and Olson successfully shot 126 and 123 clay pigeons, too.
Blair's five top finishers in the overall standings were Kalvin Kies, Elijah Tabor, Roman Sahm, Tyler Behnk and Hunter Camenzind. Kies was 138-for-150, while Tabor went 135-for-150. Sahm, Behnk and Camenzind hit 125, 122 and 121 targets, respectively.
Alyssa Lode was BYSS' top female shooter, taking out 120 targets — one more than Backman's total after two days.
Fort Calhoun's top marksman, meanwhile, was Landry Benoit. He was 129-for-150 ahead of Gabe Vaughan (117), Kai Koeltzow (110) and Ava Bittner (97).
The Cornhusker Cup Champion, however, was Kahne Packer of the Wilber 5 Clovers. He won a shoot-off with Landen Nowak of North Platte, going 146-for-150 before adding a 49-for-50 tiebreak performance.
Altogether, “approximately 2,500 participants and their coaches and families” were expected to take part in the Cornhusker Trap Shoot, according to a pre-shoot event program.
Juniors compete Thursday
The Cornhusker shoot started Thursday with Junior Division competition.
Noah Marquiss and Jackson Kempcke were Washington County's top finishers, falling just three targets shy of top-20 finishes. The BYSS marksmen both went 86-for-100.
Altogether, the Blair Gold lineup of Otte Blair Middle School students took 15th overall. Marquiss, Kempcke, William Jensen, Henry Heuton and Greyson Nichols were team members.
Eli Stamm, meanwhile, led all Junior Fort Calhoun marksmen in Doniphan. He was 78-for-100, while Charles Christensen shot 72 clay pigeons with his shotgun.
Arlington's best finisher — Jack Fletcher — was 68-for-100, too.
CORNHUSKER TRAPSHOOT
High Overall Results/Thursday-Saturday in Doniphan
SENIOR DIVISION
Cornhusker Cup Champion: Kahne Packer, Wilber 5 Clovers, 146-for-150.
Arlington results: Wyatt Widman 141-for-150, Kaleb Dowling 135, Jacob Vanek 129, John Von Behren 127, Zane Gerrish 126, Carter Olson 123, Wyatt Flesner 122, Cooper Staats 122, Shane Japp 121, Trenton Hansen 120, Jake Flesner 120, Cyris Sass 119, Jack Sorensen 115, Tate Johannes 112, Haydn Hegemann 104, Ben Flesner 95, Brock Lauritsen 79.
Blair results: Kalvin Kies 138-for-150, Elijah Tabor 135, Roman Sahm 125, Tyler Behnk 122, Hunter Camenzind 121, Rory Hiser 121, Tregan Baker 121, Jase Lantry 120, Alyssa Lode 120, Evan Brodersen 120, Jaydyn Backman 119, Henry Valasek 118, Haleigh Deming 117, Aaron Hinman 116, Baylor Barrow 116, Revlyn Rasmussen 115, Luke Raymond 114, Gavin Baker 108, Michael Amandus 105, Bella Reynolds 101, Emily Loerzel 96,
Fort Calhoun results: Landry Benoit 129-for-150, Gabe Vaughan 117, Kai Koeltzow 110, Ava Bittner 97.
Tekamah-Herman result (BYSS marksman): Jager Leichleiter 117-for-150.
JUNIOR DIVISION
High overall champion: Braxton Harre, Exeter-Milligan, 96-for-100
Arlington results: Jack Fletcher 68-for-100, Lakyn Deming 62
Blair results: Noah Marquiss 86-for-100, Jackson Kempcke 86, William Jensen 79, Greyson Nixon 78, Devon Lantry 78, Henry Heuton 74, Hank Hahn 71, Greyson Nichols 69, Brogan Boerma 63.
Fort Calhoun results: Eli Stamm 78-for-100, Charles Christensen 72, Giovanni Infante-Still 66, Carter Doyle 62, Wyatt Wemhoff 57.
