PELLSTON – Shooting is not the most popular sport out there. But in a small community like Pellston, it’s becoming more popular every day.
The thing is, it’s not just a hobby for Pellston students. The Hornets are winning things now and are successful in every way and form.
This is thanks in large part to the Pellston High School clay court team, which recently won its conference championship with 1,806 total points, well ahead of runner-up Sandusky (1,639.5).
The title capped a memorable season for the Hornets, in which every one of their shooters qualified for next summer’s state finals. Coach Kathleen Blust said six team members finished in the top 20 of the state rankings out of 800 shooters.
“Proud and excited are two words that come to mind when we think about the season we just had,” Pellston coach Kathleen Blust said. “We had three new faces to the team this season and those three new faces ultimately led us to a conference championship.”
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Since the summer of 2022, the Pellston program has grown and had 17 participants last spring.
At the helm this fall was Alivia Broman, the No. 1 ranked woman in the conference. The No. 2 men’s finisher was Collin Sutton, while Hunter Sonnenberg took third place.
“For me, winning the conference title was epic,” Blust said. “We always did our best to score points for the team and compete. The support was phenomenal. It was a significant achievement for the team and represents the culmination of effort, talent and commitment. I am very proud of every athlete on the team and it is an inspiration for the younger members to continue training so we can continue to grow. This is a milestone that will stay with us for quite some time.”
Other Pellston team members included Zoey Stenson, Brayden LaPeer, Nick Bannett, Jack Schmalzried and Orrin Searles. All-State Trap honors were given to Broman, Sutton and Sonnenberg.
“Having so many athletes from all conferences and all states on the team shows the strength of the program,” Blust said. She later added, “We have learned our routines and developed the skills necessary to be strong competitors at state. “We have gained the momentum to move forward and continue on this path in the seasons to come.”
Blust added that the Clay Target gives Pellston students another alternative to success.
“It shows kids that you don’t have to like or participate in traditional sports,” Blust said. “You can be good at other non-traditional sports and have success while still winning conference titles and going to states. It also shows that even small communities can retain talent in sports that are considered hobbies for most people.
“In small communities like Pellston, where a sense of community is often strong, a successful sports or sports program can play a critical role in improving the quality of life, providing opportunities for residents and fostering a sense of belonging.”
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With state finals next June and nationals in July, expectations for Blust aren’t too high. She just wants her shooters to continue having fun.
“The goal we always have in mind is to make sure you have fun, no matter what,” Blust said. “It doesn’t matter what place you reached, what rank you hold, or whether you hated it. Statistically speaking, our goal this year is to have more athletes qualify to take part in the national competitions next summer. We had an athlete last year and the competition was tough. But we worked hard and I think we can compete from states to qualifying for nationals.”
Contact Sports Editor Jared Greenleaf at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter@sportsCDT
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