CEDAR RAPIDS — Rolling down a certain uneven gravel path in northeast Cedar Rapids, you’re met with the sounds of snaps, crackles, and pops. As the trees clear, the sounds you heard match the sights as hundreds of people are lined up to watch their friend or loved one compete in a day full of ‘clay busting.’ Welcome to the world of trapshooting.
At Otter Creek Sportsman’s Club, area schools take part in a multitude of shooting events, coming together to show off their keen-eyed skills in singles, doubles, and handicap.
Watching the many teams with even more athletes compete in these events is a moment not to be taken lightly, but neither is Solon’s trapshooting team. Though small compared to others who account for members in the triple digits, the Spartan team works tirelessly to hone their own skills.
“They are always working,” said Catherine Bilskie, team coordinator and wife of head coach Eric Bilskie. “Whether it’s during practice with each other, or at big events… they always have this drive to be better.”
The team doesn’t just fire off rounds, though; they build bonds. Weeknight practices don’t just turn into teaching moments from coaches, where fine-tuning their stances and focusing on follow-through is welcomed with open arms, but they also evolve into enjoyable experiences, one teammate to another.
“The down time between shooting, where we can just go around and hang out, are some of my favorite moments,” said Allen Shima, a Senior Varsity shooter.
The intermediate, JV, and Varsity squads are all revered as fun and exciting. The coaches, eager to help, seem to always have a smile on their faces. The 6-12th grade kids that comprise said squads appear repeatedly jovial. But most of all, the onlookers, who are involved every step of the way to help the team grow, do too.
That sense of growth radiates throughout. Parents line the surrounding grass patches with camp chairs to witness the team shoot, often volunteering behind the scenes or helping coach younger athletes, becoming closer in the process. Former team members, now in college or beyond, return to lend support or just check in, further weaving that strong thread of great tradition and support the trapshooting team garners.
For Solon, trapshooting is not just about walking up to the trap house, shouting their call, and pulling the trigger. No. It’s much more than that. It’s what makes up the supporting culture surrounding the team, which has grown to become a community in itself, that makes it special for all involved.
“It’s so special here in Solon,” said one Solon parent. “Everyone, parent and kid, is encouraging and involved in everything, and trapshooting is proof. There’s nothing like it anywhere else.”