When someone tries trapshooting, they will experience much more than just hitting a clay target, said Tod Neifert, president of Manheim Clay Sports and member of the Manheim Sportsmen's Association.

"Young shooters that take up trapshooting sports learn great skills," he shared. "On top of shooters learning safety, sportsmanship and shooting skills, they also learn to work through difficult times, concentration during distractions and that there is value learning from the veteran shooters."

One of the things Tod enjoys most about the sport is its inclusivity. "Trapshooting is for all shooters, not just males, not just females, not just young or old, and there are shooters that stand and shooters that are in a wheelchair. It is for all," he said. "Because of the support of the Manheim Sportsmen's Association, the joy of trapshooting is within reach of all young shooters in the Manheim area."

As Tod explained, five young local trapshooters got together to try the sport for fun at a different trap club. "They all began to improve and enjoy the competition and camaraderie of trapshooting," he said. "With all the boys being from Manheim, Jim Shreiner and Matt Powronzik, with the support of Kurt Diffenderfer, began reaching out and offering the boys to shoot at Manheim Sportsmen's Association."

The students, who all attend Manheim Central High School, have achieved great success and improvement in their disciplines this year, Tod noted. He explained that there are three disciplines in amateur trapshooting. "The disciplines are singles, handicap and doubles," he said. "Singles trapshooting is when you shoot from five different angled positions that are 16 yards from the trap house, where the clay targets are thrown." In handicap, shooters fire from different yardages, based on their skill level. In doubles, two birds are thrown at the same time. In all disciplines, the clay targets are thrown at approximately 35 miles per hour, Tod said.

Each of the Manheim shooters has events that he gravitates to, Tod noted. Shooters Chase Kirchner, Avery Kirchner, Andrew Waddington and Joel Hershey represented Manheim Central FFA at the Lancaster County FFA competition earlier this year and won first place.

Individually, Chase achieved shooting both 25 and 50 straight while competing at the Pennsylvania state shoot in Elysburg. Avery won individual champion as the high-scoring shooter at the Lancaster County FFA shooting competition. Andrew won the Doubles Championship Class D runner-up at the Westy Hogans in Elysburg. He also won the Singles Junior Class Runner-up Champion, shooting a 98 of 100. Joel has won awards in six events: Junior Singles Champion and Junior Handicap Champion in the 128th Anniversary Shoot at Glen Rock Shooting Club, Junior Handicap Champion and Junior Doubles Champion at the George Landis Jr. Memorial Shoot at Glen Rock Shooting Club and Junior Handicap Champion and Class C High All-Around Champion in Elysburg.

Leonidas Neifert has achieved the ranking of All-American. "In the 2024 season, Leonidas is ranked 18th in the world in amateur trapshooting in the Sub-Junior Category," Tod stated. "He also achieved the honor of being named to the Pennsylvania state team." In the 2024 season, Leonidas amassed more than 40 awards in each of the three disciplines.

"The group's success would not be possible if they wouldn't have found a sportsman's club to accept them with open arms. The Manheim Sportsmen's Association did exactly that," Tod commented. He added that the association emphasizes safety first, and he noted that club members serve as mentors for the young shooters.

Tod is optimistic about the future of trapshooting in Manheim. "It is refreshing to see families accompanying their young shooters to the club," he said. "It is exciting to see the veteran trapshooting members of Manheim Sportsmen's Association mentoring the young shooters. It is a symbiotic relationship where the young shooters learn from skilled veteran shooters that have already experienced the problems and difficulties that young shooters will see. The veteran shooters have a deep sense of pride as they mentor and pass on their skills to the next generation of shooters."

Tod noted that with the support of the Manheim Sportsmen's Association, a youth trapshooting program is forming now.

"Trapshooting is a safe, fun sport that will challenge every person. As Manheim Clay Sports is a new organization, we are actively looking for community support," Tod said, noting that anyone interested in supporting the organization or learning more may email him at Neifertt2@gmail.com. "It is our hope to have the official program up and running by spring."

Anyone can try trapshooting on Wednesdays at the Manheim Sportsmen's Association, 552 Oak Tree Road, Manheim. For more information, follow "Manheim Sportsman's Association" on Facebook.