The Jesuit High School Sacramento Sportsman’s Association helps students develop their passion for trap shooting in a controlled and welcoming environment. The club is led by Math Teacher Mr. Keegan Smith, and Mr. Mark Smith, the father of Cooper Smith ’25 and Griffin Smith ’27. Every week, Mr. Smith leads practices where members hone their skills, preparing for the several competitions they attend throughout the year.

“The club is primarily focused on giving the boys an opportunity to learn and practice clay target shooting in a safe and fun environment,” Mr. Mark Smith said. “We accomplish this by having practices at the [Sacramento] Valley Shooting Center on Sunday afternoons.”

Many members of the team excel in trapshooting, but Mr. Mark Smith knows that trap shooting requires constant improvement.

“Many of the boys have become good shots,” Mr. Mark Smith said. “Now it is all about developing the mental toughness to stay focused and break as many targets as possible in a round.”

Along with becoming a better trap shooter, Colton Katz ’25 enjoys the opportunity to bond with people who have similar interests.

“It’s a really great way to meet new people,” Colton said. “It’s great to connect with other students who enjoy shooting trap.” 

The Sportsman’s Club currently focuses on shooting trap, but the club is still growing and will continue to evolve. 

“In the future, we will probably include skeet and sporting clays as well,” Cooper said. “As of right now, we have around 15 kids on the team, and we would love for more students to join.”

Many club members participate to pursue their passion and have a good time, but there are other potential benefits in trap shooting. Mr. Mark Smith encourages people to learn more about the sport and the opportunities that come with it. 

“The CYSSA competitions are a great place to display your skills,” Mr. Mark Smith said. “There are probably many more schools participating in the CYSSA events than most realize. There are also college scholarships available to seniors, provided locally by CYSSA and even the [Sacramento] Valley Shooting Center.”

Whether you want to become a better shot or build friendships that will last a lifetime, the Jesuit Sportsman’s Association is for you. With the club still growing and open to join, it is never too late to join and have a great time every weekend.