Klassen eighth to lead Benson trap at MSHSL State
Klassen eighth to lead Benson trap at MSHSL State
Brooke Kern
Swift County Monitor
The Benson trapshooting team competed at the Minnesota State High School League State Trapshooting Shoot Friday, June 23, at Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake. The Braves competed as a team and had four individuals compete at the state shoot.
“Our squad (team and individuals) had a great showing at the High School All State Trap finals (Friday) in Prior Lake,” Benson coach Andy Abner said. “They did great despite the extreme heat and some gun malfunctions during the team event.”
Ava Klassen took eighth out of 28 female shooters with a 97 out of 100 targets hit during the individual rounds. She had a 24 and 25 straight in the opening rounds, missing her first clay out of the house before hitting the next 49. Her first session was followed by a 25 and 23 in the second to lead four Benson individuals at state.
“Ava’s 97 was enough to keep her in the medals,” Abner added. “This was the first year for the High School league to allow the top 25 female category. Kids did great!”
Gabe Abner also recorded a 25 straight in the opening round of the state shoot. He followed it up with a 24, 22 and 24 for 95 total.
Miranda Klassen tied for 16th out of all female shooters. She opened with a 23 out of 25 and finished session one with a 24 to record a 47. The second session was exactly the same and she finished with a 94.
“Miranda had a gun malfunction during session one and session two, so she had to shoot an unfamiliar gun to finish each session and in her individual rounds,” Abner said. “She handled it very well and the squad did their best to get through it. “
AJ Klassen rounded out the individuals at state with a 91. He shot a 23, 22, 24 and a 22.
As a team, Benson posted a 475 team score, which was good for 13th out of 40 teams at the MSHSL state competition.
United South Central claimed first as a team with a 484 and Fairmont, Roseau and Wayzata followed with a 482 team score.
For perspective, Benson shot a 491 team score at the Minnesota State High School Trapshooting Championships a week ago Saturday, in Alexandria. It was a phenomenal day, even for Benson’s higher-than-average trapshooting standards, coach Andy Abner said.
The Braves took first overall as a team in the largest trapshooting event in the world, which included all nine days of competition, over 340 schools and around 8,000 shooters. Had they shot that well Friday, they would have won the MSHSL State trophy.
The five shooters for Benson combined for seven 25 straights, including a 50 straight by Ava Klassen.
She led the team event for the Braves with a 99 out of 100. She was the top female finisher in the team event after shooting 50 straight in the first session and a 24 and 25 in the second. Klassen missed the first target of the session second before hitting the next 49 to claim the top spot.
AJ Klassen was the second top shooter for Benson. He had a 24 and a 25 in the first session to score a 49 and followed it up with a 25 and a 22 for 47 in the second session for a total score of 96. The mark ranked in a tie for 44th overall out of male shooters.
Gabe Abner was the third-best shooter on the day for Benson with a 95. He had three rounds of 24 and a 23 at state.
Austin Fahje shot a 24-22-23-24 for 93, and Miranda Klassen rounded out the team scoring for the Braves with a 92. She had two 25 straights in the team competition.
