Young shooters compete at Idaho State Youth Shooting Sports Championship

HAYDEN — In a moment of focus and determination, 15-year-old Cedar Gabriel readied himself, aimed his 12-gauge over-under shotgun and blasted a moving target that soared through the sky.

"It feels pretty good knowing that you can hit something flying out in the air going 30-plus miles an hour," the tall Lake City High School sophomore said Friday morning. "It’s just fun to get out here and do something outside."

Gabriel, who belongs to the Lake City High School Skeet and Trap Club, joined more than 80 other youths who competed for trophies and endowment awards during the first day of the fifth annual Idaho State Youth Shooting Sports Championship at the Coeur d'Alene Skeet and Trap Club in Hayden. Teams from all over the state are participating in rounds of trap, skeet and sporting clay in hopes of clinching the top $5,000 endowment award prize.

Shooters are split into rookie, intermediate and varsity divisions and will receive awards in skeet, trap, sporting clay and high overall as well as male and female categories. The endowment awards, which include the $5,000 first place, $3,500 second place and $2,500 third place, are put into accounts from which the winning teams can draw up to 5 percent each year to cover equipment, competition and travel expenses. The tournament is presented by North Idaho Youth Shooting Sports.

"I love it," said Coeur d'Alene High School senior Ryan Kerr, 17, who shoots for the Viking Skeet and Trap Team.

Kerr has been shooting since he was in middle school. He said the best part is "watching the target break after doing everything right to get there." He practices twice a week during the season, which aligns with the school year. He said becoming a shooter has taught him how to be patient.

"Definitely patience," he said. "Even if you miss a couple of targets and get down, you have to keep it together, otherwise it’s just going to fall down even worse. You have to stay upbeat."

Viking co-coaches Kiersten Kerr and Bill White said the sport is about more than just shooting; it's about safety, focus and perseverance. It's also about working as a team.

"A lot of our kids, this is all they do and this gives them a team to belong to," White said. "It’s that good camaraderie that they belong to a team at the high school."

"It's also a big mental game," Kerr added. "They need to learn to focus."

Lake City's coach, Ben Higgs, also spoke about the importance of young shooters collaborating and working together.

"Besides the team aspect, supporting one another’s shooting, I think it’s just a good way to introduce kids and keep them shooting firearms in a safe way," he said. "And it’s a club activity, so they’re doing it because they like it."

"Come out and give it a shot," Gabriel said.

The Idaho State Youth Shooting Sports Championship continues today at 9 a.m. The Coeur d'Alene Skeet and Trap Club is located at 1879 W. Miles Ave.

Info: www.cdaskeetandtrap.com