KODAK Digital Still Camera

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The Iowa Central sports shooting team finished as a national runner up this past weekend and claimed three national titles.

The Tritons were competing at the NCSSAA Nationals in Las Vegas.

“We had a great week in Las Vegas at the NCSSAA National Championship,” said Iowa Central head coach Jessica Gunderson. “These student athletes have faced some adversity this year and it is awesome watching their hard work pay off.”

Iowa Central won the Division V Trap national championship, while Bryce Wade was the Super Shooting champion and Allison Jesne was the Doubles Trap Queen.

The Tritons were runner ups in Sporting Clays and HOA.

“Josh Kenkel scored his first 100 straight in American Trap,” Gunderson said. “Wyatt Lindstrom also scored 100 straight, finishing second after a shoot off. Claire Chapin shot her first 75 straight, finishing with a 99 and placing third after a shoot off.

“Chayden Wright and Wade also had 99s, tying a school record of 497 out of 500 to win the Division 5 national trap championship.”

The Tritons set new school records as well.

“Our second place Sporting Clays score set a new program record,” Gunderson said. “Bryce Wade has made tremendous strides in the sport becoming a national champion.”

Wyatt Lindstrom was second in Trap and Jesnsen was second in Super Shooting.

“Allison and Cody had tremendous showings, especially early in the week,” Gunderson said. “Jensen finished second and became a national champion in Double Trap.

“Dickerson shot an impressive 95 to finish third in Doubles Trap.”

Claire Chapin was the bronze medalist in Trap and Cody Dickerson earned bronze in Doubles Trap.

Gunderson was pleased with the way her team has shown improvement.

“We still have some things to clean up to chase the HOA championship,” Gunderson said. “It is exciting to see improvement. We shot nearly 50 targets better than last year. We will have a lot of experience returning with well over half of the team back next fall.

“When paired with the talent coming in the fall, I can’t express how much I am looking forward to seeing what these students can accomplish on the field as well as in the classroom.

“I just want to thank the coaching staff, athletic department and administration. We couldn’t do any of this without them.”