Baldwin Bulldog Trap and Clays, a club of BHS and BJHS, is starting its fourth spring season soon. The team has been competing since the spring of 2016.

“I don’t know the exact dates and times,” head coach Ryan Reynolds said, “There is a pre-registration form online.

You can find the link on the Baldwin Bulldog Trap Team Facebook page.

“Shooters have to be enrolled in Baldwin public schools, in grades six through twelve, and have hunter safety certification,” Reynolds said. “You also must have hearing and eye protection, and a twelve or twenty gauge shotgun that is in good, working orders that the instructors have deemed reliable and safe.”

To compete, shooters need a few things to get started.

“You need hearing and eye protection, a twelve or a twenty gauge in good working order that is safe and reliable, and a good attitude,” Reynolds said.

As far as the team’s achievements, the list is certainly an impressive one.

“There is a long list of them,” Reynolds said. “We were the first state champions, and we were the first state tournament champions. We routinely have one of the top three shooters in the state. We are annually one of the teams vying for the state championship. We’ve won our conference in spring of 2016, fall of 2016, spring of 2017, fall of 2017, spring of 2018, and took runner up in the spring of 2018. We’ve also placed first, second, and third in the state championship.”

The league started in Minnesota, and has since grown to include 28 states, including California, Florida and New York.

“It started in Minnesota in 2001,” Reynolds said. “The league came to Kansas in 2016, I believe there were seventeen teams that year. Last year, I think there were near 1,800 Kansas shooters.”

Safety is the main priority of the team, and it seems to be working.

“There have been over one and a half billion rounds fired since 2001, with zero reported injuries. It is the safest high school sport in America.”

The students are having a good time too.

“I like to shoot, it’s fun. I like that I can shoot independently, unless we’re at state,” sophomore Dylan Steinman said. “The shooting part, it’s all on me.”

“I’m really excited,” newcomer Tyler Davis said. “I think it’s going to be really fun. I’m excited to hang out with my friends and do what I love.”