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Spring Grove, among the 11 Journal-area trap teams, had the most successful trip to the state championships conducted by the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League (MSHSCTL) at Alexandria. Every member of every team, regardless of their regular season standing, is eligible to compete against all teams in their class as each of nine classes (1A through 9A) crowns a state champion during a nine-day event (one day for each class). Held annually at Alexandria, it is the world’s largest youth shooting sporting event, in 2025 on June 9-17. Overall, there were 335 teams represented, including 7,486 individuals.
In addition to deciding those titles, the event also determines which 40 teams (no matter the class) qualify for the overall state championship conducted by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) at Prior Lake. Out of 335 teams at Alexandria, Spring Grove had the 30th-best team score to advance. The team score is comprised by its five best individual scores. The Lions, currently coached by Christopher Bjerke, have now qualified for MSHSL state for the third time in the last four years.
In a different event, the same day at Prior Lake, the MSHSL also crowns an individual champion. That qualification was determined by the 100-best averages during the previous five-week regular-season conference competitions. As reported last week, three Journal-area marksmen had already earned that All-State qualification: Holdyn Willford of Lanesboro, Christian Bjerke of Spring Grove and Cameron Miner of Kingsland.
Spring Grove, with each individual firing at 100 flying clay targets, had a team score of 473 (98-95-94-93-93) to place fourth among 38 teams in Class 4A. Garrett Waldenberger hit 98 of 100 birds, the third-best score among 384 competitors that day. He was followed by Izaak Morken 95 (tied for 20th), Tyler Turner 94 (tied for 28th), Roland Bjerke 93, Isaac Vick 93 and Christian Bjerke 92.
Mabel-Canton, at 467, placed seventh out of 38 in Class 4A. Shawn Swenson and Ike Tweeten each hit 96 targets, tying them for 11th out of 384 Class 4A shooters. Eight Cougars scored at 90 or higher, including Duke Soiney 92, Teddy Torgerson 92, Lane Koch 91, Kale Tollefsrud 91, Hunter Kelly 90 and Saijal Slafter 90.
Kingsland, at 463, finished 16th out of 40 teams in Class 3A. All-State Cameron Miner with 98, tied with Spring Grove’s Waldenberger for the best score among Journal-11 shooters. Miner ranked seventh among 409 (top 1.7%) in Class 3A, followed by Kellan Slifka 92, Carson Wolfgram 91, Caden Reiter 91 and Daniel Lund 91.
LeRoy-Ostrander, at 459, ranked 13th among 56 squads in Class 2A. Jackson Siskow nailed 94 clay targets, followed by Brayden Schaefer 92, Vivien Main 91, Talan Lewison 91, Logan Drees 91 and Kimberly Volkart 90.
Lanesboro, at 455, placed 14th among 56 teams in Class 2A. All-State Holdyn Willford hit 97 clays, tying him for 10th among 430 shooters in Class 2A. Tied for 32nd were Boone Moen 95 and Trayton McCabe 95.
Rushford-Peterson, at 453, placed 18th among 38 teams in Class 4A, led by Colton Ronnenberg and Avery Kammerer who each blew apart 92 flying targets. Ryan McNeil hit 91 and Chace Drazkowski 90.
Houston, at 446, placed fifth (top 7%) among 74 teams in Class 1A. Justin Riederer connected with 95 out of 100 birds, tied for third among 363 competitors. Ryan Riederer at 91 was among the top 1% of Class 1A shooters. Elliot Frauenkron, at 90, was in the top 12%.
Grand Meadow, at 433, finished 27th among 38 squads in Class 4A, led by Rowan Sheen with a score of 92 and Parker Armagost at 91.
Chatfield, at 428, ranked 20th out of 20 teams in Class 8A. Maxwell Finley had a Gopher-high score of 92 while Zach Whalen hit 91 clays.
Fillmore Central, at 408, placed 28th among 31 teams in Class 5A. Leading the Falcons were Dreigh Cremer with 87 and Conner Hovey at 84.
Caledonia, at 407, placed 32nd (among the top half) of the 74 teams in Class 1A. Eric Welscher blew 89 birds out of the sky, Aiden Burns 78.
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