Trap shooting team celebrate successful season with banquet, awards presentation

By Dan Ries
CCM Reporter
It was a history making and an award-winning day as the Carrollton High/Middle School trap shooting team held their first ever banquet July 30th at the Brown Township Sportsman Club, just north of Malvern.
For the first time in school history, members of the trap shooting team received school letters for their achievements. Thirteen of the young shooters would receive school letters. And according to Head Coach Mike Rummell, Carrollton is the first school in the state of Ohio to present letters to their students.
The team consists of students from fifth to twelfth grade. However, only high school students can receive school letters. To qualify for a letter, a student must carry an average of 19 (out of 25) or more birds at the end of the season.
This year’s letter winners are seniors Aussie Hoobler (20.12 avg.), Brody Moore (22.89), Hayden Risaliti (22.07), juniors Malachi Carson (22.46), Preston Jackson (19.53), Dakota Ketchum (21.61), Paul Leslie (21.42), Aiden McNutt (20.82), Mackenzie Rummell (19.92), Gannon Rutledge (21.82), Dustin Ulman (23.03), sophomores Beau Bittaker (20.03) and Ben Stoneman (21.84). Brody Casper (20.84), an eighth grader would have lettered, if he was eligible.
Five students were named EBC Scholar Athletes: Moore, Rutledge, Stoneman, Ulman and Leslie. To qualify a student must letter and have a 3.4 GPA for the third nine weeks.
Six special awards were given out to end the program. Winning the junior high Girls Top Gun was Ruby Anderson. The junior high boys Top Gun was Casper. The girls Top Gun was Rummell. The boys top Gun Award was close between Moore and Ulman, with Ulman winning by just four birds. Ulman finished with 645 out of 700 birds and Moore finished with 641 of 700 birds. The most improved award went to Bryce Lonca, who started the season averaging just 9 birds to averaging 18.91 birds, just shy of lettering.
The day turned somber as Coach Rummell paused for a moment before handing out the last award. Tears filled his eyes. “I don’t know if I’m going to get through this last award,” he said as he tried to choke back the tears.
The Thomas Parker Dedication Award went to Malachi Carson.
“We wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the contributions of Tom Parker. This was his dream. He did all the legwork. He handled the paperwork. He organized the meetings. He and I spent twelve hours in Columbus at coaching meetings. Even though he would never be involved directly with the team, he would call me every week asking how the kids were doing. That’s why this award is named for him”.
Parker passed away on July 25, 2022, after a short battle with cancer.
The ceremony ended with the outgoing seniors selecting the captains for next year – Leslie, Preston Jackson and Ulman.
The shooting team is coming off a successful showing at the state tournament in Marengo. The varsity team of Moore, Ulman, Carson, Risaliti and Leslie finished 12th out of 35 squads.
The junior varsity team of Bittaker, Josh Rhiel, Lonca, Koda Hoobler and Nate Stoffer finished 16th out of 35 teams.
The junior high advanced squad Sam Kampfer, Mark Gansheimer, Grady Gansheimer, Brody Casper, Sebastian Pyles and Brody Gonda finished 13th out of 29 teams.
The junior high beginners squad of Anderson, Cole Rector, Jamison Jackson, Aiden Toney and Lilly Kruprzak placed 12th out of 29 teams.
Assisting Coach Rummell were Bob Lee, Devin Herrington and Neil Stoneman.