Jefferson Community College in Upstate New York Is Starting Small, But Thinking Big
by Matt Krumrie

THE PEOPLE OF JEFFERSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (JCC) CLAY TARGET CLUB believe there are two important elements crucial to building any program:

Passion and support.

And because JCC already has both, coach Wayne Reed is confident the numbers will come. Founded in the Spring of 2020, the JCC Clay Target Club has competed with five team members each season, just enough to compete but with plenty of room to grow.

“We’re a small team but we’re working hard to get more kids involved,” said Reed. “I think there is a really strong interest in this area, especially for those who compete on their high school team and are looking to stay involved once they get to college.”

Reed rattles off a list of people who have helped the program get started: Ed “Doc” Powell of Sackets Harbor Sportsman’s Club, the home range of the club; assistant coach Ryan Forney; his son Joe Forney; and Paul Alteri, assistant professor of criminal justice at JCC.

Back in 2006, Alteri created a basic firearms class for JCC criminal justice (CRJ) majors. The class was designed to teach future law enforcement officers the basics of handgun safety, proper handgun care, and shooting techniques. This class is now required for all JCC CRJ majors.

“Many of our student athletes are CRJ majors and take many of my classes together, allowing us to develop a great rapport with each other and new friendships,” said Alteri.

Reed’s daughter, Monica Reed, also played a key role in starting the club. Monica was a three-time New York State High School Clay Target League Female High Overall at Carthage High School.

“I got motivated to start the program because of how much I enjoyed shooting for my high school and the presence of many former teammates at JCC,” said Monica Reed. “My high school team introduced many kids to the shooting sports, myself included, and I figured a college team could do the same thing.

“JCC is a great school and I truly enjoyed my time as a student there. Going to college isn’t just about going to class. Getting involved around campus is a great way to meet people and a good addition to your resume after graduation. Shooting sports is a great outlet to better yourself and network with fellow students and staff.”

JCC is a public community college in Watertown, N.Y., and is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. It offers 40-plus programs, including nine that are entirely online.

“We have a top-notch coach in Wayne Reed who helps in skill-building but also stresses the importance of shooting safety,” said Alteri. “We also have access to and use of one of the finest outdoor ranges in our area in the Sackets Harbor Sportsman’s Club.”

One thing Reed loves about the League: all are welcome.

“What is great about shooting sports is that you don’t have to be the best athlete, the biggest, or the fastest,” said Reed. “The sport is open to anyone interested in learning. Once people try it, they seem to like it. I’ve seen kids with little to no experience, and once they start to shoot a little bit and it starts to click, they get a big smile on their face. It’s great to see. And the people…I’ve met some of the nicest, most responsible, and respectful people in this sport.

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ALEXANDRIA COLLEGE OFFERS STUDENT ATHLETES A UNIQUE BLEND OF
LIFESTYLE AND EDUCATION

LOCATED ABOUT 130 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE TWIN CITIES, the Alexandria lakes region of Minnesota is a popular destination for those looking for a magical summer getaway. There’s also another gem in the area, but it’s not hidden, at least to those participating and following the USA High School Clay Target League. That gem is Alexandria Shooting Park, home to 20 trap fields, including four that are lighted, a voice release system, a skeet field, 146 campsites, and banquet facilities. Alexandria Shooting Park is also home to the Minnesota Trap Shooting Championship and each summer approximately 330 teams featuring over 8,300 student athletes convene at the site, along with family and friends over nine days, to compete in the world’s largest trapshooting tournament.

With access to world-class facilities in their own backyard and rapid growth of the sport, it made sense for Alexandria Technical & Community College (Alexandria College) to add Clay Target League as the first varsity athletics program in 15 years at the public community college with approximately 4,000 students. So they did just that in 2019. The school was already a major sponsor of the Minnesota Trap Shooting Championship, so adding a team to the burgeoning USA College Clay Target League seemed like a natural next step. “Our sponsorship and booth at the Minnesota Trap Shooting Championship has given us the opportunity to showcase our programs and offerings to thousands of Minnesota high school students and their families,” said Nichole Aber, marketing and communication specialist for Alexandria College. “We have enjoyed the opportunity to engage students in demonstrations, activities, and conversations with staff and program
faculty. Students and their parents from all over the state have learned about our college and programs they didn’t know we offered. They also get to experience the Alexandria community and all that it has to offer.
“We encourage our students to live their passions while getting an education, even offering sporting storage for students to store snowmobiles, ATVs, and other outdoor toys.”

Alexandria College is coached by Tom and Cindy Townsend, a husband and wife duo who manage Alexandria Shooting Park where the team practices (less than 5 miles from campus) and Blaine Gulbranson. Tom and Cindy have been coaching at the Park since the 1980s. “It’s extremely important to us to teach safety, respect, and camaraderie, in that order,” says Cindy Townsend. “This is a sport you can participate in your entire life. We all
don’t have the athletic capabilities some have, but can hit a target quite well. Trapshooting is very much a mind game and how you focus determines how well you will do. It can be all about you and your attitude that will get you a winning score. I’ve always told the kids, ‘focus on that one and only’ forget about what you’ve lost because you will never get that
one back. Don’t let it get you down.” A total of 23 student athletes participated in that inaugural season in the fall of 2019 and another 23 competed in 2020. Alexandria College competes in the Minnesota Collegiate
Athletic Conference (MCAC) against other technical and community colleges throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. The sport has earned emerging sport status from the National Junior College Athletic Association, the governing body of two-year and technical school athletics, so opportunities to compete on the national level could soon be
on the horizon.

Alexandria College won the 2019 MCAC Fall Championship, 2020 MCAC regular season title, and finished second in the 2020 MCAC Championship.
In addition to the varsity team, Alexandria College offers a more casual trapshooting club and is gauging interest in an outdoors club for students to explore the outdoors in other ways (fishing, hiking, and snowmobiling). Alexandria College already has an excellent academic reputation, with 98% of graduates placed in jobs upon graduation. Now it has a few more resources to attract students, such as a clay target team and trapshooting club. “It’s this blend of lifestyle and education that is a draw,” says Aber. “It’s our secret sauce; more than 40 academic programs from skilled trades to liberal arts, plus the abundant outdoor activities and vibrant community only available in the Alexandria lakes area.”

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THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, there are hundreds of high schools with clay target teams. When I started, there were maybe a hundred people or so at the state trap shoot. Now there are thousands. Where teams used to be at local gun clubs, they are now in high schools. Where this was a male-dominated sport, now there are lots of females finding success, too. The Minnesota State High School Clay Target League Trap Shooting Championship is held annually in Alexandria, Minnesota, where I work as a career counselor for the Minnesota Army National Guard.

In years past, I have been on teams that competed in four national competitions and two championships. This is not a typical sport. These young people have to go above and beyond to have respect for what they’re doing. In dealing with firearms, there is a lot of responsibility involved. Trap shooting can become a lifelong sport, inspiring a passion for outdoor activities while teaching valuable lessons along the way. From simple concepts like how to communicate, to respect, courage, and responsibility—lessons parallel to what one would learn in the Army. The Minnesota Trap Shooting Championship is absolutely one of, if not the best, events we attend.

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It’s no secret Florida is a football state. But football isn’t for everyone, and everyone can’t play football. However, Sunshine State students with a desire to learn and a firearms safety certification can participate in the Florida State High School Clay Target League (FLSHSCTL). The FLSHSCTL provides a safe, comfortable, and positive team environment for student athletes to compete and learn lifelong skills.

That’s what drew Kenney Yale to the sport and why he became head coach of the McKeel Academy of Technology Clay Target Team. McKeel Academy in Lakeland is one of four teams that make up the League’s growing presence in Florida. “I am very much an advocate for anything that pertains to outdoor activities, and something that allows kids to do something other than the typical sports,” said Yale.

At McKeel, students in grades 8–12 can compete. The program joined the FLSHSCTL in 2019 and in 2020 the program had 26 team members. “We were actually the first team to attempt to join in 2017 but other teams in the state were not ready to join with us,” Yale said. “We joke around and say we won the first state championship since we were the only team.” Yale says those new to the McKeel Academy program are often surprised at how much—and how quickly—they enjoy being a part of the team, and participating in shooting sports. This includes student athletes, parents, and volunteers. “Every year we have new parents and shooters join the team, and they are always very excited,” Yale said. “I have to make sure that they don’t jump out and buy the most expensive shotgun as they are just beginning. This year we have more than doubled our numbers from the past and parents are volunteering more than ever.”

Kady Batson is one of the top guns on the team. She can consistently shoot 25 out of 25 in both skeet and trap. Batson likes that she is part of something unique—McKeel is currently the only clay target team in Central Florida—and the fact that the team doesn’t have to travel to other schools to compete. All competitions are held at Imperial Polk Gun Club in Winter Haven.
Batson’s favorite style is skeet, but she also likes the pace of trap. “I like how you have different birds at each station,” Batson said. “The birds come
from either the low house or the high house and at some stations, you get a bird from each house. Station 5 low keeps me on my toes. I’m a lefty and I think that station might be a bit more challenging for lefties. I like the quickness of trap. You can shoot with a beginner and it’s still pretty quick.”
Luca McCoy has been consistent in both trap and skeet and is a great mentor to other shooters, says Yale. “I see him being a couch down the road,” added Yale.

Yale believes the sport will continue to grow in Florida and hopes the League size doubles or even triples in the coming years. “I think what is unique about clay target as a sport is it is a team activity, but it depends on individual talents,” Yale said. “We teach our kids to share information, whether it’s about what type of shotgun is being used, what type of ammo they’re using, what works with their stances, or anything else like that.”
The sport is competitive and rewarding when one achieves success, says Batson. And the fact that everyone cheers and helps each other is a huge plus. “Each time you bust a bird it feels really good,” Batson said. “And everyone is so encouraging in this sport. I’ve participated in many other sports and this one is the best with adults encouraging you. From all the parents to my coaches, it’s so nice. Even when you aren’t shooting your best, they are still happy for you.”

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A common question I hear from athletes, parents, and coaches is what choke they should use on their shotguns. There’s no simple answer to this question, as it depends on what type of clay target sport they’re shooting and the personal preferences of the shooter. In this issue we’ll go over what a shotgun choke is, how it works, and what factors to consider when choosing one for your sport.

WHAT IS A ‘CHOKE?’
At the most basic level, a shotgun barrel is a tube from which shotgun pellets (shot) are ejected. While they are traveling through the barrel, the pellets are kept together in loose formation until they exit—at which time they begin to spread out farther and farther away from each other as they continue towards the target. As the shot spreads out, spaces develop between pellets and the likelihood of the pellets hitting a target becomes less and less—even if you’ve aimed perfectly! A choke is a metal constriction at the end of the barrel that forces those pellets closer together before they exit the barrel. By forcing the pellets closer together, they will
maintain a tighter formation (pattern) for a longer period of time. A choke that is ‘tighter’ (more constrictive) will keep the shot closer together for a longer distance than a choke that is ‘looser’ (less constrictive).

DIFFERENT SIZES FOR DIFFERENT USES
Chokes come in a variety of sizes, which are measured in the amount of constriction they apply. Each increase in the size of the constriction increases the average percentage of pellets that will hit a 30-inch target at 40 yards. As you can see from the chart, if you’re shooting at targets that are farther away from you—like you would in trap—then you would want to use a choke that has a tighter constriction. In my experience most trap shooters prefer to use an Improved Modified choke, because the average distance of your target when shot is about 30 yards. If you’re shooting at targets that are close to you—like in skeet shooting—then a looser choke like an Improved Cylinder, or the obviously named Skeet choke is going to be a good choice. Once you decide on which choke to use with your shotgun, take the time to go back to the patterning board and see how your shotgun shoots with various types of ammunition. You might be surprised to see the variation in your pattern with different brands and loads.

One final note of caution: make sure you know if your shotgun uses a removable choke because you don’t ever want to shoot a shotgun without its choke installed. You’ll damage your barrel irreparably, and it’s tough to hit a target without one.

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The Olympics will be soon underway in Tokyo, and along with Vince Hancock there will be a number of top American clay target athletes representing our nation in the trap and skeet competitions this July.
Despite sharing the name, Olympic Skeet and Olympic Trap are different than the original versions developed in America. Many athletes are not aware of these differences, so here’s a basic primer on the differences in how the rest of the world participates in these sports.

OLYMPIC TRAP
In Olympic Trap (also known as International Trap, or Bunker Trap), the athlete has five stations from which to shoot their targets. However, unlike American Trap, the bunker holds 15 trap machines (three per station) and each trap throws a target at a fixed angle. The targets are shaped slightly differently, and they fly over 20 mph faster than American trap targets.
While shooting, Olympic athletes don’t know exactly which of the three traps at a station will be triggered. However, they do get a second shot at each target.

OLYMPIC SKEET
Like Olympic Trap, the targets are thrown much faster compared to its American counterpart. However unlike American Skeet, athletes are required to keep their shotguns below their shoulder until they call for a target. When watching the competition look for the yellow bar on participants’ vests—that marks where they are required to keep their
stock before each shot. Another major difference is that there can be a delay of up to three seconds before the targets are released. The combination of focus, agility, and reaction time required to hit Olympic Skeet targets make some athletes consider it the most difficult of Olympic shooting sports.

TRY IT YOURSELF!
Olympic Skeet and Olympic Trap fields are not as common in America, but if you have a chance to try these exciting sports, give it a shot. But remember, even the best don’t shoot perfect scores, so just have fun and try something new!

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LOCATED ABOUT A HALF-HOUR’S DRIVE SOUTHWEST OF PORTLAND, OREGON, the Newberg Rod and Gun Club has served as an integral sporting and social gathering spot for shooters of all ages for the last 75 years.
Like many ranges, Newberg has seen membership rise, decline, and rise again over the years and, today, the club boasts a deep volunteer roster as well as more than 100 members. The club’s surge in popularity meant upgrades needed to happen—even during the pandemic, said David Craig, who serves as Newberg’s club president.

Having thrown nearly 200,000 clay targets on a pair of traps the year before, Craig and fellow club officers simply found their cherished facility bursting at the seams. “2020 brought in some significant changes to the club,” said Craig, who’s also the head coach of Newberg High School’s trapshooting team. “We expanded with a third trap field, which has enabled us to throw even more targets during peak times and get greater
attendance at our sanctioned shoots.” The club’s three trap fields (one which is covered—a feature that comes in quite handy during Oregon’s frequently inclement weather) are automated with voice calls and
self-serve controllers that dispense targets for tokens or pre-loaded RFID cards. Occasionally, volunteers will set up 5-stand, but they mostly throw basic trap, Craig said.

Additionally, the venerable property features a forested camping area as well as a modest clubhouse that features a kitchen, restrooms, a wood stove, and plenty of indoor space for moderately sized groups to gather.
Over the last few years, Craig has been spending much of his time focusing on helping the next generation of local athletes fall in love with the sport. In fact, as head coach of Newberg High School’s team, Craig has been able to see much of the club’s rise in popularity stem from its involvement with the USA Clay Target League. “Early in my tenure as president, we recognized that our shooters were aging, and we were not getting new younger shooters to take their place,” Craig said. “So, when the USA Clay Target League came to Oregon four years ago, it was an easy decision to jump in
with both feet.”

The League gave Newberg access to schools and a much higher chance of building youth participation. Although it took some effort to get local schools on board, success came quickly once club officers had approval. Yamhill-Carlton High School, located just 12 miles west of Newberg, was the first school to join, and the following season Newberg joined them. Today, the two teams total 70 kids and 13 volunteer coaches. “The League has been a real boost to Newberg Rod and Gun Club,” Craig said. “Not only are we getting a ton of youth shooting, but USA High School Clay Target League
activities have introduced the sport to lots of parents and grandparents, many of whom have also started shooting.”

“The League offers many benefits to those that participate. It is personally
rewarding for the volunteers and the kids, and it has created a revival of the sport in our local community.” The club and its many volunteers work hard to follow the League’s mission. “Trapshooting offers the opportunity for any student to learn about firearms and firearm safety,” Craig said. “This is a sport that frequently rewards dedication and hard work. There is the opportunity to be on a team on which everyone participates, and you
can only help the team—never hurt it.” The new relationship with the League is a win-win. “When it comes to our students, we are reaching and benefiting kids, many of whom may not fit in other activities,” Craig said. “This is safe, fun, challenging, coed, and offers high school students the opportunity to earn a varsity letter. It is definitely a worthwhile investment in the future of our sport.”

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WHEN HAYDEN ROLEN ISN’T SHREDDING GUITAR STRINGS, HE’S SHATTERING CLAYS as the Missouri State High School Clay Target League’s reigning Fall Season High Overall Average. The multi-talented musician from Thayer has climbed the charts in a short amount of time.

PullUSA: What do you enjoy about the League?

Hayden Rolen: It has been a lot of fun. Spending time at practice with my teammates. We had so much fun and learned so much in such a short time. It was a great learning experience. I can’t wait until next season starts up.

PullUSA: When did you first learn to shoot?

Rolen: Around two years ago. My dad took me shooting a couple times before the team was formed. I started off busting around four targets a round to being high point average in our class in the state.

PullUSA: What club do you shoot at?

Rolen: I shoot at Rover Gun Club in Rover, Missouri and Fulton County Trap Range in Salem, Arkansas. My friends always joked with me for wearing shorts no matter how cold it was and not being “country” enough.

PullUSA: Any coaches or teammates you want to give a shoutout to?

Rolen: Thank you to Coach Teanna Simpson for providing us with this opportunity. Thank you to Lester Jett at Rover Gun Glub for all his expertise. Thank you to Scott Moody for giving us opportunities to practice at Fulton County Trap Range. Thank you to Robert Simpson for all his support. Thank you to all my teammates for working hard every practice, every round, and making each one of us better!

PullUSA: What other hobbies do you have?

Rolen: I like to play music in a band. I play lead guitar, piano, and vocals. We play a lot of classic rock and a little country.

PullUSA: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received on the line?

Rolen: I try to not worry too much as I shoot and take it one bird at a time.

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CORRIE CLONINGER HUNTS DEER, DUCK, AND CLAYS. “So there isn’t much time for other things,” the junior from Bessemer City, North Carolina said. That’s one reason she was the Skeet National Conference High Overall last fall.

PullUSA: Why did you join the League?

Corrie Cloninger: To be honest, I did not know much about the USA Clay Target League until about a year ago. It is a great way to meet new people, build strong relationships with your friends and teammates, learn the skill of skeet shooting, and become a better shooter.

PullUSA: Why do you love the sport?

Cloninger: My dad was a competitive trap shooter and wanted to take me to the range to try to shoot skeet and I fell in love with the game. I’ve been shooting for roughly five years now and I love each and every bit of the sport. I have met some wonderful people that I couldn’t imagine my life without. The community that has surrounded me throughout my
shooting career has definitely inspired me not only as a shooter but as the person I am today.

PullUSA: What club do you shoot at? Any stories or favorite memories?

Cloninger: I shoot at Gastonia Parks and Rec. It is just a small three-field range in Gastonia. I have more memories and stories than I can count. I remember my dad taking me to the range to shoot on a Sunday after church or on a Thursday and I would get back in the car after shooting and tell him that one day I’m going to beat him—and now I do!

PullUSA: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received on the line?

Cloninger: For me I have a very bad tendency to overthink and lose confidence in myself. I’ve received many pep talks from people I admire. The best advice I’ve received is just encouraging words like “you got this” “do what I know you can do” “make me proud”—things like that.

PullUSA: Any tips for those just starting out?

Cloninger: I would just say go for it and try your best. Do not expect to go out there and shoot in the 20s your first time. It is a process and takes lots of work and practice. Practice. Practice. Practice. And do not give up. Find someone to be a mentor, whether it be a fellow teammate or coach. Don’t ever be scared to ask questions and change things up. We have all been there.

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When Vincent Hancock showed up to the 2005 World Cup in Changwon, Korea as a 16-yearold, a lot of people dismissed him. Don’t expect too much, they said. Just have fun. Then he set a world record.

“So people were like who is this kid?” recalled Hancock. “And they said OK well this is never going to happen again. Don’t think you are going to come out and do this every time.” They didn’t know who they were dealing with.
Since skeet became an Olympic event in 1968, no other athlete had ever won gold more than once. Then along came Vincent, who shocked the world with a record-breaking gold medal performance in Beijing at the age of 19. Four years later, he won Olympic gold again in London. But it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the Eatonton, Georgia boy. As he ramps up
for his fourth Olympics this summer in Tokyo, Vincent shared his journey from eager youth to dominant teen and now humble father, student, coach and entrepreneur.

THE SPARK
Vincent grew up a lover of baseball, but his dad, Craig Hancock, and older brother, Matthew, shot competitively. Craig also coached the local 4-H shooting sports team. When Vincent turned 10, dad took him to South River Gun Club in Covington, Georgia, for his first round of skeet. He quickly progressed to sporting clays. “I loved it. I thought it was so much fun,” Vincent said. A couple years later Vincent was at a 4-H state championship with his dad. Still too young to compete, he was just hanging out with the team when a gentleman came by trying to drum up interest in the Olympic discipline of shooting in Atlanta, where the 1996 Olympic Games were held.
The Hancocks drove up to Atlanta the following weekend, where Vincent shot valiantly the first day, and terribly the next. Something sparked inside of him. “It was on the drive home that night that I told my parents I wanted to go to the Olympics and I wanted a gold medal,” Vincent said.

THE FOUNDATION
Three months later, Craig, who was a homebuilder, built a skeet field in the Hancock backyard. Vincent started shooting every single day.
“Looking back on it, knowing I had that opportunity, it was really neat,” said Vincent, who now lives, trains, and coaches fellow Olympians Austen Smith and Amber English in Fort Worth, Texas. “It’s crazy to think about what I had at my hands to be able to succeed, and how few people have that opportunity.”

Craig was a really good trap shooter, but didn’t know much about the Olympic discipline. So Vincent took it upon himself to find videos online, studying the likes of American Olympians Todd Graves and Shawn Dulohery, along with Italian Olympic champion Ennio Falco. He’d sprinkle in his knowledge from sporting clays, and, voila. “So it was just kind of a morphing of a bunch of different techniques and a lot of different things that didn’t work,” he said. Then Craig was hired as the contractor for the
gun club in Eatonton, where he quickly realized just how much he loved shooting sports. Craig dropped construction altogether, bought the club and became the general manager. As Craig started to bring in different coaches to the facility, young Vincent took advantage. “We couldn’t afford the lessons, but what I would do is go out and listen to them coach, and on the off chance that they had a little time and they were willing to spend
it with me, I just wanted to shoot with them,” Vincent said. “They taught me how to shoot pull-away, and how to shoot pass-through. They taught me how to shoot sustained and taught me how to shoot trapping a target, or collapsing into the target. “That’s the biggest thing about my learning phase that I can attribute to a lot of my success—being able to understand all these different concepts and apply them in sporting clays, and then transition them over to the skeet field.”

THE RISE
Vincent won his first match in 2004, the Miami Cup, at the age of 14. And after that, “I went on a tear.” In 2005, he took everyone by surprise, not only qualifying but winning and setting world records at his first World Cup in Changwon. He didn’t take kindly to being viewed as a one-hit wonder.
“That was not me. My expectations and competitiveness were extreme, to say the least,” Hancock said. The rest of that year, Vincent went to seven international matches, including Korea, and won four gold and three silver medals while setting a handful of world records. “I kind of went crazy that year,” he said. The Army took notice and Vincent joined the 12-person U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. Stationed at Fort Benning, he trained seven days a week, driving home to shoot with dad on the weekends, and continuing to rack up victories. Then he made the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. Riddled with nerves and drenched with sweat in the Beijing heat, he fulfilled his dream with a record-breaking, gold medal shootoff victory at age 19.

THE FLAG
To this day, opening ceremonies in Beijing is his favorite memory.
“Everybody always assumes the best part of the Olympics is getting the gold medal and having it hung around your neck, watching the flag being raised and listening to the anthem,” Vincent said. “That’s amazing—truly. But the most iconic moment of any athlete’s life is walking into opening ceremonies. “As we’re walking there, and it takes hours to get there, the hallway under the stadium is pitch black inside. We can’t see anything. I’m maybe 13 rows behind the flag.

We’re walking as a group and the energy is getting insane as we get closer. The athletes are hopping up and down, hooting and hollering. The crowd is cheering. It’s the loudest experience I’ve ever had. “As we’re getting close and they call the United States, as soon as the flag bearer walks out, the flag bursts into colors. It’s the brightest red, white, and blue you’ve ever seen
in your life. They start chanting U-S-A and it’s just an unbelievable experience and nothing else in the world can rival that.”

THE STRUGGLE
Vincent rode that high until he hit a wall in 2011. “I shot the worst match of my life in Slovenia. I was sick of traveling. I had a young baby. I said I’m done,” Vincent recalled. “My wife said, ‘No, no, just stop, let’s get home and
we’ll talk about it.’ It took a few months for me to realize that I had never reset any goals after 2008. I didn’t have anything that I was driving myself towards.” After taking time off and setting new goals for himself, he reemerged better than ever. In a jacket and rain pants, Vincent won the 2012 Olympic gold medal in London, this time by a comfy two-shot cushion.
After cementing himself in history with his back-to-back Olympic golds, he fell into a similar pattern of competing well for a couple years before crashing. Unfortunately this time the crash culminated at the 2016 Olympics in Rio with a 15 th place finish. “I just felt off the entire year,” he said. “I was really down on myself after Rio. After that I just realized I wasn’t having any fun. I was pushing myself too hard and put too much pressure on myself. Something needed to change. I realized you have to enjoy it and you
have to go out and have fun. That was my change in attitude after 2016.”
Vincent took seven months off after Rio, searching for the spark that lit his career.

THE STAY AT HOME DAD
Vincent’s wife, Rebekah, went back to college in the nursing program at Texas Christian University (TCU). That meant the three-time Olympian needed to step up where he was needed most. “This last semester I was doing everything,” said the father of two girls. “I picked the kids up and dropped them off. I made them breakfast and I cooked dinner every night. I
drop the kids off in the morning and I’m at the gym for the next two hours. From the gym I go straight to the range.” Vincent is not only proud of his wife, but inspired by her. He’s now finishing up his degree with DeVry University and was recently accepted into TCU’s executive MBA program. He’ll start classes this fall. Vincent’s ultimate goal is to build, own, and operate a new state-of-the-art shooting facility. Last year, he received a grant to build in Fort Worth. The plan is to have it up and running within the next year or two. Several years down the road, he aims to have it fully
outfitted for the Olympic discipline, ready to host World Cups, and much more. “I’ve explained the dire need for facilities here in Fort Worth,” he said. “We just don’t have enough ranges for people that want to shoot. We’re having to turn away kids and turn away high school teams that want to start because there’s just nowhere to practice.”

THE FUTURE
Vincent has a sincere passion for growing the sport. “One of my highest priorities is to have this facility open every single day for kids and for teams to come in and shoot,” he said. “I’m not going to turn away kids that want to come out here and shoot just because someone else gets mad there’s a group of kids on the field. Our future is the youth.” He strongly believes in the USA Clay Target League as a driving force for the industry. “The USA Clay Target League is doing a fantastic job trying to grow the sport,”
Vincent said. “We need to grow this in every state and have facilities that embrace it as well. That’s how we’re really going to grow. “The clay target shooter is putting a lot more into the whole industry than just your
hunter who goes out and shoots maybe a couple deer each year. The clay target shooter is going to shoot 50-100 cases of shells each year. Then they’re going to get excited and go hunt. Let’s grow it through shooting sports because we can get into urban centers and reach people that may not be interested in hunting yet, but we teach them what this is all about: safety, history and opportunity.”

THE ROAD TO TOKYO
But there is just one thing at the forefront of Vincent’s mind right now: Tokyo. After taking seven months off and acquiring his new shotgun, he was raring to go. Then the pandemic hit, and the Olympics were postponed a full year to July 2021. Vincent didn’t want to make the same mistakes, so he took another nine months off to reset. Now he hopes to peak when it counts most. “I want to get that feeling where I step onto the range and there’s literally no doubt in my mind that I’m going to win. Because when you feel that way, other people see it too,” Vincent said. “I know that I’ll get there and I’ll be ready when Tokyo comes around.”

VINCENT’S KEYS TO VICTORY

VINCENT HANCOCK’S TIPS FOR NOVICE, JUNIOR VARSITY, AND VARSITY STUDENT ATHLETES

NOVICE

I’m still stressing the basics to Austen (Smith), who’s a world record holder and Olympian. If I had one thing to say when you’re first starting out, learn how to look at a target. You want to see the front leading edge, whatever it is—going up, down, right, or left— look at that and see it as clearly as possible. Match the speed of the target. When you’ve matched the speed and you see the target clearly, that’s when you pull the trigger.

JUNIOR VARSITY

MOUNTS -Work on your mounts. A lot of people really have this funky mount that they get into—they’re dropping their shoulder back or lifting their head or poking their head way down. If you’re just standing straight up and you have the shotgun across your body, and you’re looking to your left (as a right-hander), finding your natural point of alignment is critical. How you find your natural point of alignment is if you’re standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, and they’re parallel. Your left pinky toe (front foot) and right heel (back foot), if you have a stick where you can line those up, where that points to is your natural point of alignment. You want to put your natural point of alignment where you want to break the target.

VARSITY

ROUTINE – Work on your routine. The routine is the most critical part in getting you that last 5% to go from 95% to 100%. if you can do the same thing over and over and over again, it creates repeatability, and repeatability breeds success. because you know the more you do something, the better you get at it.

But if you go out there and your hold points are different every time, your eyes are in a different spot, and your break points are in a different spot, your foot position is in a different spot, all of those things change the outcome.

You’re trying to make the outcome as simple as possible. Set yourself a routine where you can check off every single step of it, each time, before you call for the target. It’s called a pre-shot routine. When you accomplish that, you set yourself up for success and you can repeat what you now works.

3 SKEET LEADS
VINCENT HANCOCK EXPLAINS THE THREE DIFFERENT TYPE OF SKEET LEADS.
SWING-THROUGH:
Start your barrel from behind the target. Sweep through the bird. Get in front of the target and pull the trigger while still moving your barrel away. Using the swing-through method isn’t my favorite because of its inconsistency. As your barrel passes through the target, you lose sight of
it. But you will need to learn how to use this method, because sometimes you get beat by the target. And to break it, your barrel must pass through it.
SUSTAINED LEAD:
Get in front of the target at the appropriate lead. Follow the target and pull the trigger while maintaining its follow-through. This is the most consistent lead on the skeet field, and because of that, it’s also my favorite. Finding the correct lead, and how much lead that is, depends on how far the target is away from you, and how fast it’s moving.
PULL-AWAY:
Match the speed of the target, and then slowly accelerate away from it at about 1 mph faster than the target is moving. On both the skeet field and the hunting field, this is commonly used because of its consistency. I recommend you try the pull-away method over all the others because it’s consistent in both shooting sports and hunting.

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