by J1 reporter Elizabeth Buescher

The Marian-Duchesne Trapshooting team hosted its annual Faculty Trapshoot on Oct. 22 at their practice range in La Vista. Every fall the team invites faculty from both Duchesne and Marian to give trapshooting a try. 

Though the official trapshooting season doesn’t start until the spring, Marian’s team has practices in the fall, which gives them the opportunity to host fun shoots, such as the faculty shoot. 

The event was set up like a trap meet would be in the Spring: the team set up their tent, tables, and shotgun racks. Girls had to show up earlier than the regular practice time to help set up everything, and many girls brought food. 

Even though all faculty and staff members were invited via email and a poster in the faculty/staff workroom, three showed up to give the sport a try: Principal Mrs. Susie Sullivan, Security officer Mr. Bill Monahan, and Learning Services Coordinator Mrs. Priscilla Trecek went to the faculty shoot. 

This was Sullivan’s second year attending the faculty shoot. “Once I turned 60, I figured I’d attend the shoot at least once…something about 60 makes you think about things so I decided to try and shoot for fun for once. I had never shot a gun before,” Sullivan said. She enjoyed the event so much that she came back this year. She admired the uniqueness of the sport and especially enjoyed the wide array of food available. “I can understand how students can get hooked by trap. Every time I got close to hitting a clay, I would want to try again.” 

Monahan, Marian’s security officer, went to the faculty shoot for the first time this year. “I was impressed that Marian had a trap team and I wanted to try it out,” he said. He admired the low pressure environment that the coaches provided, and the welcoming aura of the entire event that was present from the start. “I always saw trap as a guy’s thing, I was surprised that girls were doing it…I also never expected to get to know students when I first got this job, yet here I am going to events and talking to students!” Monahan said.

All of the faculty who attended went through a comprehensive safety course led by Mr. Jeff Genoways, who coaches the new shooters, where he explained the parts of a shotgun and other key elements of shooting trap. Once everyone was given a shotgun and a box of shells from Coach Genoways, they went up to the line and stood 16 yards away from the trap house, which is the closest length shooters are able to stand and also where everyone starts when learning how to shoot. 

Genoways is the spouse of Marian science and technology teacher, Dr. Sharon Genoways. Their family has been involved in Marian Trapshooting since its inception back in 2004, with one of their daughters on the original team. 

Each faculty member was accompanied by an experienced shooter from the Marian-Duchesne trap team on the line to help them get the hang of shooting, as many faculty and staff had never held a gun before. 

After shooting a box of 25 shells, the faculty members put their guns on the rack and were able to eat any of the many soups and desserts that team members had brought. They could also shoot some more if they wanted, or watch a squad of team members shoot. 

Junior Jasmine Carranza, currently in her second year on the team, attended the shoot. She joined the trap team as a sophomore after being recommended to try the sport by a friend. This year Carranza will receive her blue shooting vest, given to girls after their first year on the team as a sign of their loyalty to the sport. “Trap teaches you really good life skills and it builds community between Marian and Duchesne girls,” said Carranza. “Knowing those skills, especially the safety skills they teach you, can really set you up for success later in life.” 

The Marian Trap Team was founded in 2004 by former Marian staff member Mr. Bruce Esser. A few years later, a girl from Duchesne asked to join the team and the Marian-Duchesne trap team was formed.

Over the years the team adopted their classic blue vests, which became a sign of the team that had the most class in the state, as current head coach David Voth would say. You won’t see Marian or Duchesne girls angrily throw an empty shell into their pocket after missing a target; in fact, you won’t be able to tell if they missed one if you didn’t watch the clay—they’ll remain calm and collected the entire time. With this class, the team has collected many state titles over the years, and has had girls go on to become Olympic-level shooters.

Nebraska’s high school State Trap Shoot has frequently conflicted with Marian’s Field Day over the years. Senior Eva Kreiner has been on the team for all four of her years at Marian, and during her Freshman year she decided to skip Field Day to go to State (anyone can go to state, there are no restrictions on how good students have to be to go). This year, luckily, State Trap will be during the first weekend of May, and will not conflict with Field Day. 

During one of Mrs. Sullivan’s first years as Principal of Marian, she went to the State Trap meet in Doniphan, Nebraska. She walked into Marian’s tent on the first day of state and was most surprised by the wide array of food brought by the girls that both parents and shooters could eat. “They had a full spread of breakfast that rivaled hotel buffets, and immediately after they set out lunch. I liked the trap team after that.” 

The Trap team’s faculty shoot is a great opportunity to get staff members from both Duchesne and Marian involved in the team. It helps more people know that both schools actually have a trap team. A fun trapshoot helps build community within the team and with the staff members who attend. 

This year Marian has five returning shooters; one senior, three juniors, and a freshman from the 6th through 8th grade shooting program the team provides. There are several new shooters considering joining the team as well.

The trap team is always accepting new shooters, even in the spring. If interested, students can email Marian’s faculty moderator of the trap team, Dr. Sharon Genoways at sgenow@omahamarian.org or the head coach, David Voth, at dvoth@omahamarian.org. New shooters don’t have to have experience or own a gun, both shells and guns are provided by the team.