Nine Berlin Target Terminators (CTT) the youth trapshooting group along with coaches, parents, friends, and relatives traveled the 500 miles to attend the 2022 AIM (Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship) Grand National Youth Trapshooting Championships held at the U.S Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL (about 50 miles from St. Louis, MO).
Over 1600 young trapshooting athletes from 29 states and from some provinces of Canada, plus thousands of spectators attended the event, held July 29 – Aug. 2.
The competition was unbelievable, on the first day of the Singles event, there were about 40 perfect “100’s” and more than 50 “99’s” in the Junior class (age 15 up to 18).
The Berlin Conservation Club Team I, had a great1st round of singles hitting 484 of 500 targets. TJ Gropp “100”, Mason Bell “98”, Brianna Thompson “98”, Brady Nyhuis “94”, and Tim Roeske “94”.
Their second round of 100 was also very impressive with Brady Nyhuis “100”, RJ Gropp “99”, Mason Bell “97”, Tim Roeske “96” and Brianna Thompson “96” for a score of 487 of 500 targets and a two-day total of 971 of 1000 targets.
Which was good for first place in the Junior Class AAA Division, and first place in the special class of the conservation division.
The Berlin Conservation Club Team two of four athletes had a 751 of 800 targets with Samantha Tuchscherer having two “98’s”, Garrett Konrad a “97” and a “95”, Lillian Longworth had a “96” and a “91” and Jacob Lytle had an “89” and an “87”.
In event three, AIM Grand National Handicap Championship did not produce any trophies or awards, however six of the nine Berlin Target Terminators scored in the 90’s.
Event four AIM Grand National Double’s Championship had RJ Gropp take third place in the Junior Class A with a “98” of 100 and Samantha Tuchscherer took third place in the Junior Class D with “86” of 100.
During event five AIM Grand National Singles Championship there was an eight-way tie for third plaace as each athlete shot an impressive 199 of 200 targets. RJ Gropp was one of the eight, and there was a shoot off one by one each competitor was eliminated until it was down to two, RJ Gropp and Wyatt Baine of Illinois, and after seven rounds of 25 each shooter had perfect scores 175 of 175.
As the scheduled time for the evening program (awarding several hundred trophies and awards) was being used up by the shoot off.
AIM officials talked to each athlete and with the consent of both athletes, they moved from the 16 yard shooting position to the 25 yard position and after shooting 200 targets, RJ won the shoot off 199 to 195, and won third place in the AIM National Singles Championship.
In essence RJ shot 398 of 400 targets to win third place.
Each of the eight 25 target rounds takes 10 to 15 minutes, as each shooter has to shoot five targets at each of the five shooting stations.
The crowd of about 500 people had an excellent shooting demonstration and had a chance to see amazing shooting skills being performed by the young trapshooters. In the AIM Grand National High All Around (HAA) Championship Event, the best score of 400 targets, 200 in singles, 100 in doubles, and 100 handicap determines the HAA event championship and Runner-up. The event HAA Junior Championship went to Wyatt Baine with a 392 and the Event HAA Runner-up was RJ Gropp with a 390.
Then in the HAA Junior Class AA, Mason Bell was champion with a score of 388. Brady Nyhuis was the special game winner of the ISBA 3 Gun Tactical.
RJ Gropp was selected to the Sub-Junior 2022 ATA All American Team.
Selection to the All American team is based on points earned by winning or being runner-up in approved ATA events, such as State and National trapshooting events.
The 1600 acre world shooting and Recreational Complex is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It was several small fishing lakes, over 1,000 campsites, and a three and a half mile trap line that has 120 trap houses.
The whole 1600 acres was a strip coal mine operation that has been reclaimed for recreational purposes. It has a museum, restaurant, hall of fame building, gift shops, and vendors of all types from guns to apparel, food, etc. It is an amazing complex that is open year-round.
All of the coaches were recognized for their hard work, including Jeff Gropp, Paul and Jessica Nyhuis, Dave Roeske, and all the volunteers at the Berlin Conservation club that make it easier for the Berlin Target Terminators to participate in trapshooting events.
