In 2023, we headed to our first state championship at Red Eagle Skeet & Trap Club in Childersburg, the very range where I cut grass at 12 years old to buy my first skeet gun. Just showing up was a win, but we left with even more:
FORTRESS
2023 Alabama State Championships( All Three Disciplines) 1st – Connor Parker( Trap), Intermediate Class 1st – Rivers Looney( Skeet), Intermediate Class 1st – Rivers Looney( Sporting Clays), Intermediate Class 1st – Mac Scarbrough( Trap), Senior JV Class 4 state titles total, all in our first year— competing against 15 other established programs.
In 2024, we moved up a class and competed against over 150 shooters, placing second in two disciplines and third in another:
2024 Alabama State Championship 2nd – Wyatt Godwin( Sporting Clays), Intermediate Advanced Class 2nd – Connor Parker( Trap), Intermediate Advanced Class 3rd – Rivers Looney( Skeet), Intermediate Advanced Class
Following that season, I asked the City Council to consider building a home range. They unanimously approved what is now one of the best shooting facilities in the Southeast: a world-class complex with five skeet fields and overlay trap. The University of Alabama, Auburn, and Montevallo all have college skeet teams and are all currently looking at our teams and monitoring our progression. Our original hope was to get our kids scholarships, and that’ s exactly what we are on task to accomplish.
Now, we’ re training at our home range and preparing for the 2025 state shoot in June, back at Red Eagle. I reflect on this journey and am reminded: God’ s plan is always greater than our own. From that first call from Annette to the leadership of Chris, the dedication of Matt, Tim, and Drew, to the support of Mayor Kennon and the City Council, this has all been God’ s provision.
What once seemed impossible is now done, through God, by God. Thank you, Annette Mitchell, for being the spark that started it all, and to Mayor Tony Kennon, the City Council, and everyone who made this possible.
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