In The Arena

Rodeo Roundup In The Arena

Shooting Sports in NMJHSRA/NMHSRA

by Sage Faulkner

Youth shooting sports is a welcome part of the New Mexico junior high and high school rodeo scene. Junior high contestants can compete in light rifle, while high school contestants can shoot both light rifle and trap.

Just like the rodeo contestants, the top state qualifiers can go on to the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) Finals for opportunities to shoot with the best across the US states and other countries that compete. Dalli Cain, Mountainair High School student and daughter of David and Brenda Cain, shot last year at the NHSRA Finals. And shoot, she did! Dalli

placed 4th,

Caleb Delk, Las Cruces

though she tells me she didn’t shoot her first or second target well, but she didn’t let that bother her, she just kept shooting. By the time she finished her third target she had beaten her personal best score and the second day she blew her personal best score away.

I visited with Dalli to find out more about how she wound up placing in the top four shooters in the nation. She said her mom read about high school shooting sports on the NHSRA website, and while she was less than enthusiastic at first, she turned out to be fairly good. She practices when she has time. Getting ready for Nationals was an everyday thing, along with seeing a shooting coach weekly. Dry fire practice is something she does year-round, although she says practicing by herself is quite boring.

Dalli says rodeo and shooting fit together because it is a lot of the same great people. Shooting is usually Friday; rodeos are Saturday and Sunday. While a lot of people think they shoot horseback, she says they do not. They shoot light rifle competition with a .22 rifle at 50 yards in three positions: prone, standing and kneeling.

Dalli is quick to invite youth who might be interested in shooting sports to join the NMHSRA. She says we need more kids, and it’s super fun. “Most kids who shoot also rodeo, but you do not have to rodeo. I would also say if anyone needs anything whether that be equipment, advice, or encouragement, I would be happy to help!”

Junior High contestant Stetson Trujillo found the shooting sports by looking at the list of events when he was old enough to enter. He really enjoys hunting and says the best part about shooting at the junior high rodeos is that it lets him continue to improve marksmanship, which helps him ready for hunting. That, and he enjoys hanging out with his friends that also shoot. He says the hardest part about shooting is definitely the standing position. “In the standing position your arms get tired and it’s very hard to keep your rifle steady.”

Stetson practices live fire drills with his shooting coach at least once a week. He also practices holding his gun in all three positions indoors as many evenings as he can. That is easier in winter, because it gets dark outside so early. He tells me that there are similarities between shooting and rodeo because he has to put time and dedication in both. “I have found that whether I am practicing my team roping, tie down roping, or shooting, I use a lot of the same fundamentals. Concentration, repetition, and muscle memory are key factors in practicing both rodeo events and shooting.” Stetson is also quick to encourage other youth to come and shoot. Stetson is the son of Ronda and Cody Trujillo and attends Los Alamos Middle School.

High School trap and light rifle shooter Reese Polk grew up shooting and has been shooting competitively for three years. Fortunately for Reese, his dad knew about the NHSRA shooting sports, and Reese joined in high school. While he tells me there is more time spent on the road, he likes that he gets to hang out with people who rodeo, outside of the actual rodeo. He hunts and practices shooting as often as he can to keep ready for competitive shooting.

Reese attends Acellus Academy and is the son of Jeff and Carrie Polk. A steer wrestler as well, he is happy to help others in and out of the arena. He suggests new shooters start saving up, though, as ammo isn’t cheap. “Be confident in your shooting, even around more experienced people.”

The National trap shooting champion also just happens to also shoot in the NMHSRA. Caleb Delk, the 16-year-old son of Byron and Jaylene Delk is the reigning world champion trap shooter. Caleb tells us that trapshooting is a specific form of clay target shooting, and is a game of movement, action and split-second timing. It requires the accuracy and skill to repeatedly aim, fire and break the clay target which is hurled through the air at a speed of 42mph. There are five stations, and you shoot five shots at each station.

Caleb found about high school rodeo shooting sports through his rodeo friends. “I immediately decided I wanted to join the NMHSRA and compete in trap shooting. I’ve had a great time and I really enjoy it because I get to be with all of my rodeo friends and travel to different cities to shoot in the competitions.”

Caleb says the hardest part of shooting is staying focused and not getting upset when something is bothering him, or he isn’t shooting good. When he joined the NMHSRA he didn’t know what to expect and says until the national awards ceremony he didn’t realize he won the national championship. “I never expected to win, and it feels great knowing that I was able to come out on top!”

Shooting sports fit handily with rodeo events and the directors are happy to provide more opportunities for youth. Scholarships are available through both national and state affiliates for athletes. The NM state finals will be held this May, in Lovington. The National Finals for Junior High contestants will be in Georgia

Stetson Trujillo, Los Alamos

Reese Polk, Edgewood

in June. High School finals will be in Wyoming in July. Best of luck to Dalli, Stetson, Reese, Caleb and all the NM shooting contestants!

Interested in shooting sports? Make sure you check out the website at www. nmhsra.com. Directors and information are listed on the website, and the shooting guide can be found at www.NHSRA.com website. ▫