RJ Gropp wins two Wisconsin State Trapshooting Championships

RJ Gropp, who will be a senior at Berlin High School this fall won two State trapshooting championships at the 124th Annual Wisconsin State Shoot, hosted by the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association (WTA) and held at the WTA shooting complex and learning center, located in Rome Township, Nekoosa. RJ won the Wisconsin Singles championship “Junior Division” (trapshooters over 15 and under 18 years old) with a score of 198 of 200 targets. This is the third time RJ will represent the State of Wisconsin in the champion of champions event at the World Trapshooting Championships “The ATA Grand American” held at the world shooting and recreational complex in Sparta, IL, Aug, 2-12. RJ has won the champion of champions even twice, once in 2020 and again in 2021 in the sub-junior division (shooters under 15 years of age). He won both years with perfect scores, 100 of 100 targets, and is only the second trapshooter to win the event two years in a row. The champion of champions event is only open to the most recent (2023) state or provincial singles championship winners and RJ will be representing the State of Wisconsin once again. After winning the singles championship, RJ went on to win the handicap championship (junior division) with a score of 96 of 100 targets at the 27 yard mark, which is the furthest point from the trap house. Singles and doubles are shot from the 16 yard mark. He also won high all around (HAA) and high overall (HOA). In the HAA, they take the highest scores of the three disciplines of trapshooting (singles, handicap and doubles). RJ scores 384 of 400 targets giving him first place in the HAA (junior division). In the HOA, scores from all events shot are added up, his score of 1042 of 1100 targets gave him first place in the HOA (junior division). RJ placed fourth in the Wisconsin State doubles championship, with a score of 90 of 100 targets. At the 124th Wis. State Shoot, July 11-16, there were over 700 shooters and hundreds of spectators from 31 states. In those six days over 500,000 rounds were shot from 30 trap houses. Each round fired carries about one ounce of lead (which is reclaimed, melted down, and recast into lead pellets (shot) to be used again), over 16 tons of lead were used in the six day shoot. No injuries were sustained, with the exception of some sunburn, windburn, and some soakings. Many new friends were made and lots of reunions of old friends were updated. A great time was had by all that attended.