For some fall sports, the season is already half over. But for the athletes in the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League, things are just getting under way.
Last week, the 2,400 students from 92 schools competed in week one of a five-week season which will go through the month of October. At stake are conference titles and individual accolades.
The NRHEG team, which has had a fall team ever since the league expanded into the fall season, finds itself in Conference Nine along with teams from Anoka, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Thief River Falls, Cambridge-Isanti, Byron, Mounds View, and Central Minnesota Christian schools.
NRHEG has 37 shooters this season, which is up for the fifth year in a row. Three schools are represented on the team with six shooters from Waseca High School, two from Albert Lea High, two home schooled students and the remaining 27 from NRHEG.The team started the season on a ideal night and their scores reflected this as the shooters turned in some excellent scores. They were led by Waseca's Kyle Bartz, who shot a perfect 50. This puts him on top of both the conference and the state, naturally, along with other shooters who aced their opening week. Also in the top 25 for the conference are Otto Oquist (NRHEG) 2nd, Alex Romer (ALHS) 4th, Tyler Raimann (NRHEG) 8th, Collin Christiansen (NRHEG) 9th, Noah Alinder (WHS) 9th, Noah Nielsen (NRHEG) 9th, Chancellor Olson (NRHEG) 9th, and Collin Christiansen (NRHEG) 18th. As a result of these efforts and those of the rest of the team the NRHEG shooters find themselves on the top of the conference early on. They will have to keep up the pace to fend off the early contenders in Anoka and Benilde-St. Margaret’s. The team shoots every Wednesday from 4-6 pm at the Owatonna Gun Club. The public is welcome.
Class A - Conference 9
Team Name Total Points
NRHEG 2695
Anoka 2355.5
Benilde-St. Margaret’s 2104.5
Thief River Falls 1973
Cambridge-Isanti 1755
Byron 1609.5
Mounds View 945
Central MN Christian 758.5