Behind the Barrel

Jack is a Junior at FM High School and President of the Flower Mound Clay Target Team. Jack has been a valued team member for four years, shooting with a Browning Citori CX, and is known for his leadership and competitive spirit.

Jack’s favorite discipline is Sporting Clays because it is different every time and offers a new challenge at every station. While he enjoys the variety of targets, rabbits are his least favorite, and he prefers to focus on angle-out shots that test his precision and timing.Jack’s pre-shoot routine is all about alignment and focus. He carefully aligns the front of his left foot with the heel of his back foot to ensure he is perfectly lined up with the thrower or break area. His superstition? He avoids talking about his score when he is on a hit streak, keeping his focus entirely on the next target.

This season, Jack has set ambitious goals for himself, including placing in the top three at Nationals and winning first place in a tournament. Off the range, Jack plays football and values his Pit Vipers, which he considers essential for every shoot.Jack’s favorite memory with the team was competing at the 2023 Nationals, where he enjoyed the camaraderie and support of shooting alongside his friends. 

He credits his friend Brody with introducing him to the sport and says that shooting with friends makes every competition more enjoyable.For new shooters, Jack offers a simple yet powerful piece of advice: “Keep the past in the past. You can’t unmiss a clay.” He stays focused by taking deep breaths and staying off his phone during tournaments. When challenges arise, Jack focuses on consistency and approaches each target with a mental reset.Looking ahead, Jack plans to attend college and is considering a major in Animal Science or Sports Management.

We are proud to have Jack’s leadership and dedication on the team, and we cannot wait to see him continue to excel on and off the range!

Jason’s journey in clay target sports began in his freshman year after his dad introduced him to the team. Over the years, he’s grown into a skilled and passionate shooter who enjoys the challenges of Super Sporting, his favorite discipline. 

Known for his sharp aim, sweet cars, and even sharper sense of humor, Jason recalls one unforgettable moment when his shotgun literally fell apart in his hands mid-shoot!

When asked for advice for newer team members, Jason offers a golden nugget of wisdom: “Get out of your head. Clay target sports are a mental game, even if it sometimes feels like it relies on luck.”

Outside of shooting, Jason has big plans for his future. He’s aiming to attend Texas A&M to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. Alternatively, he’s considering a move back to California to support his grandparents while attending college.

Jason’s dedication, humor, and impressive achievements make him an incredible role model for our team. We’re proud to have him as part of the Flower Mound Clay Target Team and can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next—on and off the range!  Oh, and if you need some exhaust work, Jason is one heck of a TIG welder.  

Matthew Shipley, a Junior at Flower Mound High School, has been part of the team for three years. Matthew is a skilled shooter who competes with his Mossberg JM 940 Pro. His ability to remain calm and focused, even when faced with unexpected challenges, is one of his strengths as a competitor.Matthew’s favorite discipline is Sporting Clays. He enjoys the challenge of targets that fly away from him and thrives on the variety the discipline offers. However, rabbits are his least favorite target and present a different kind of challenge. His goal for the season is to achieve a perfect score in Trap and Skeet, demonstrating his focus and determination.Outside of shooting, Matthew enjoys welding and skating, two hobbies that reflect his creativity and precision. He plans to attend welding school and pursue a career in underwater pipeline welding.When asked about the team, Matthew highlighted the supportive environment, saying, “It helps when you do not know what to do because someone around you might.” His advice for new shooters is straightforward and practical: “Get a reliable gun that will not break on you and make sure to clean it after every practice.”While Matthew has many great memories with the team, his least favorite was competing in a cold and rainy tournament, which he described as a challenging and uncomfortable experience.We are proud to have Matthew on the team and are excited to see him continue to grow as a shooter and achieve his goals both on and off the range.Jason’s journey in clay target sports began in his freshman year after his dad introduced him to the team. Over the years, he’s grown into a skilled and passionate shooter who enjoys the challenges of Super Sporting, his favorite discipline.   

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Claire Cole, a sophomore at Flower Mound High School and a first-year shooter on the Flower Mound Clay Target Team. Claire, shoots a Beretta 694 with an Ergosign adjustable stock and is already making great strides in her first season.

Claire’s favorite targets so far are rabbits, and she is enjoying the challenge of learning and improving with every shot. Her goal for this season is to hit more than 50 percent of her targets and continue building her skills.

Off the range, Claire is a talented individual with a variety of interests. She is learning and practicing American Sign Language, enjoys riding horses in her yard, and recently transitioned from playing the harp to picking up a shotgun. She discovered the team after her mom came across the Flower Mound High School clay shooting program on Facebook.

One of Claire’s most memorable experiences was her first tournament, held in 40-degree drizzle. With a few practices under her belt—mostly in Trap and Skeet—Claire had only seen Sporting Clays once before. Despite being out of her comfort zone and skill set, she faced the challenge head-on with encouragement from her coaches and walked away with a new sense of determination.

For new shooters, Claire’s advice is simple: “Practice. Practice makes better.” She also encourages resilience, reminding herself to keep shooting and not let others’ doubts affect her confidence. As a girl on a predominantly male team, Claire is determined to show what she can achieve.

Claire plans to attend college and has aspirations of becoming an FBI agent. Her determination, resilience, and eagerness to grow make her an exciting addition to the team.

We look forward to watching Claire’s progress and celebrating her future successes! 🎯

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Alex, an eighth grader at Forestwood Middle School who is in his first year with the team. Alex shoots a Beretta A300 Semi-Auto and always brings a 12-gauge shotgun shell necklace to tournaments for good luck.

Alex enjoys shooting incoming targets because they require quick reflexes and precision, and he loves the satisfying way they break. However, he finds rabbits to be his least favorite because they are difficult to see and hit when broken clays are scattered around the area.

Outside of shooting, Alex stays active with cross country, track, biking, and playing video games. On the range, he relies on his cap to protect his sensitive eyes from the light, making it an essential part of his gear.

Alex’s goal for the season is to achieve a perfect round of Skeet. His favorite memory so far is the first shot he ever hit with a 20-gauge over-under shotgun. He also recalls a state tournament where he nearly hit every single shot in Sporting Clays while shooting in a forest, an unforgettable and exciting experience.

When asked about the team, Alex shared that he enjoys having fun with friends and teammates while learning and improving together. He joined the team after receiving an email from his athletics coaches and quickly discovered how rewarding the sport could be.

Alex’s favorite discipline is Trap, where he performs his best and enjoys playing games like Knockout or Annie Oakley. His advice to new shooters is simple and practical: Always fire a little ahead of your target because it is much easier to hit something when you are in front of it.

When faced with challenges on the range, Alex stays positive by telling himself, "I got this, don’t worry," and reminding himself that there is always another station to focus on.

In the future, Alex is considering joining the military or police force, combining his skills and discipline with his desire to serve.

We are excited to see Alex continue to grow as a shooter and teammate and look forward to watching his progress throughout the season.

Bishop is an eighth grader at Shadowridge Middle School who has been a member of the team for one and a half years. Bishop shoots a Beretta A400 Xcel 12 GA and is known for his determination to improve with each competition.

Bishop’s favorite disciplines are Trap and Sporting Clays, where he consistently performs his best. He enjoys fast crossers the most, appreciating the challenge they provide, and he relies on his chokes to help him excel. His goals for the season include beating his personal best score of 85 and improving his performance at Nationals compared to last year.

When preparing for a competition, Bishop’s routine includes stopping by RaceTrac for a bacon, egg, and cheese croissant paired with a Gatorade. During tournaments, he stays energized with food from the team’s food truck or snacks packed by his parents. To stay focused, he drinks plenty of water and keeps a positive mindset, reminding himself to have fun no matter what.

One of Bishop’s favorite memories is Nationals, where he enjoyed shooting his hat after earning a perfect 25. He also recalls the friendships he has built and the fun he has had hanging out with teammates, especially during tournaments. Bishop says, “You get to meet new friends and have fun meeting new people.”

Bishop learned about the team through his friend Colter, who introduced him to clay target shooting at his ranch. Since joining, Bishop has grown as a shooter and competitor. His advice to new shooters is simple and effective: “When you miss a target, erase it from your head and focus on hitting the next one.”

Bishop’s clay shooting journey has included memorable moments, from the cold, rainy, and windy December tournaments to the heat of Nationals. His resilience and enthusiasm for the sport make him a valued member of the team.

We look forward to seeing Bishop continue to grow and achieve his goals this season!

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