The Sallisaw High School FFA shooting team is now in its second year.
They recently competed in a sporting play competition, and they are now getting ready to compete in a trap shooting competition coming up in the spring.
Coach Stephen Matthews explains how his team is getting ready for the upcoming spring season.
Head Coach Stephen Matthews: “Then we have a trap season in the spring where we have to have 10 members, so in the fall we have a four-member team, and in spring we have a 10-member team, so it’s a little different than trap. It’s kind of like they’re doing right now it’s a there’s 10 members on the team, but they shoot in this group of five, then they’ll swap out, and they add all the scores together, and that’s how they do the trap contest in the spring.”
While only in its second year, Sallisaw’s FFA shooting team has already had a student earn a college scholarship.
Head Coach Stephen Matthews: “Just had a shooter get a scholarship, Drake Hide last year, and in fact, the Connors team was up north this last week’s shooting, and he got to go to his first contest as a collegiate shooter, so he’s pretty excited about that deal.”
Matthews says that community sponsors raised around seven thousand dollars last year to help get the shooting team up and going. This year’s team still operates on those sponsorship dollars generated last year.
Head Coach Stephen Matthews: “But we do need to thank those guys because they were awesome to get that money for us because we’re still operating on that money right now, but it’s, well, I think we’ve got two cases of shotgun shells left.”
The coaching staff is thankful for the community support, and they hope with the continued backing of the community, they can help provide more competition opportunities for students.
Coach Trajan Lattimore: “I’d like to see this program continue to grow, but for one thing for sure, there’s more than just two shoots that we could do that’s the shoots we currently do, and so if we could get the community behind it, and have the things we need have multiple throwers there’s a definite chance we can send people you know definitely over the state of Oklahoma and win scholarships and maybe even go on to shoot professionally.”
Students on the team say that being on the team can help improve shooting and gun safety skills.
Ben Bell: “Last year and already beginning this year, I can already tell a significant improvement in my shooting. Another thing, it’s kind of helped me with my duck hunting skills for sure. Those fast-flying birds coming through the sky.”
Wyatt Matthews: “Well shooting wise, I’ve gotten to be a lot better at it and also teaches you a little bit about gun safety and so on and so forth, but it also builds, you know, relationships with the people on your team and stuff like that.”
In addition to giving students an opportunity to bond with their teammates, the team is also another option for students who don’t feel called to participate in sports like football or baseball.
Wyatt Matthews: “Just really gives them a chance to enjoy what they have out here and do what they love.”
