Hayden Longshots top trap team at 2025 Winter League shoot off

Winning is no long shot for a team of young shooting enthusiasts.

The Hayden Longshots Trap and Skeet Team won the trap shooting contest at the 2025 Winter League shoot off March 29 at the Coeur d'Alene Skeet and Trap Club.

This was the first year a junior team even made it to the shoot offs, let alone fared so well.

"It was really cool," Longshots coach Rhonda Harvitt said Thursday. "I was trying not to cry last Saturday when they won. It was only by one bird, but this team, I am so proud of them."

The Hayden Longshots team comprises members from fifth grade through college, although it's not affiliated with a specific school.

Jasper Brondt, 13, is a Lakeland Middle School seventh grader who has been shooting for two years. Although he is versed in shotguns and rifles, he's more of a shotgun guy. He said he plans to continue participating in shooting sports for the foreseeable future.

“I just like shooting overall, I like guns," he said. "The shooting and moving targets all coming together makes it really fun."

He said he wasn't even thinking of winning as he and his teammates participated in the competition.

"I just shot my best," he said. "I was a little bit nervous."

Of the 11 Longshots team members, five are female.

Lake City High freshman Lexie Paszczynska, 15, is in her first season with the Longshots after joining last fall, although she has been shooting rifle for four years. She now shoots a single-barrel shotgun. 

“I’m pretty proud of myself and the rest of my teammates," Lexie said. "We worked really hard to get where we are. We proved our spot in the shoot off.

“I just hope we make it next year and get to compete again!” she said.

Lexie only recently discovered her passion for shooting shotgun. While at a range one day, she was encouraged by a peer to just try shotgun shooting one target.

"I missed and got really upset so I shot until I broke one," Lexie said. "About 50-60 shots later it broke, and I just kind of got hooked on it."

When shooting trap, clay targets are launched away from the shooter. In skeet, the targets move side to side rather than away. Five stand shooting combines elements of both as shooters rotate to different stations.

Three teams per contest participated in the Winter League shoot off, Harvitt said.

"There's no hesitation behind shooting," Lexie said. "You just kind of go for it. We practice, but it's not a matter of rehearsing or drills. You learn by yourself because everyone's position is different, everyone shoots other guns. It’s fun to learn through other people.”

Although aiming, accuracy and handling big guns are all part of the fun, Harvitt said shooting sports teach young people the importance of respect and responsibility.

"They are handling a firearm," she said. "The kids in the shooting community are responsible, mature kids. It also teaches them leadership in a way. They’re not necessarily shy and timid."

Winter League is a 12-week period during which participants post 12 scores and conclude with the shoot off contests. Other Winter League shoot off winners were JD Automotive, five stand; and Donohoe Construction, skeet.

The awards banquet will be April 12.

    Hayden Longshots Trap and Skeet youth team member Lexie Paszczynska prepares to fire as she and her teammates shoot during a recent practice. The Longshots became the first junior team to participate and win at a Winter League shoot off competition March 29.