There are many sports and activities that students in Searcy can participate in, but not everyone may know about one sport, trap shooting. What is trap shooting? In a simple answer it’s shooting with a shotgun at small clay targets that are thrown in the air by a machine.

Trap started in Searcy six years ago by Chuck Woodson, who works for the AGFC (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission) and is the Regional Coordinator of the AYSSP (Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program). The AGFC wanted to reach out to young kids to keep them interested in the outdoors.

One trap team in Searcy called Leading Edge has two teams of junior high students and two teams of high school students. Colton Joyner, a junior, started shooting trap when he was in the fifth grade and has loved it ever since.

“My favorite part of trap shooting is spending time with my friends and teammates,” said Joyner.

John Pinkley has been the coach of Leading Edge since the start. Pinkley decided to coach trap because it can be a common ground for kids to come together, teach them gun safety, and for them to participate in a team sport.

“Trap shooting also requires no athletic abilities so it is something anyone and everyone can do.”, says Pinkley.

Members of the team get the chance to travel all over the state of Arkansas and even outside of the state to shoot.

“The best part about shooting is getting to travel and meet new people,” said Kyle Pinkley, junior and trap-shooter since the fifth grade.

Leading Edge has practice on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sundays for two hours every practice but they don’t just shoot for fun. In May, they go to Jacksonville to shoot at the AYSSP Regional. Last year, they had one senior team place third at Regional and make it to the top sixteen at State. A few other competitions that they participate in are AIM (Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship) and ATA (Arkansas Trap Association) shoots where students can even get scholarships.