Hunter Ahrendt shot three perfect rounds Friday at the Minnesota State High School League Clay Target Tournament at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake.
He shot a 23-25-25-25 for a total of 98 out of possible 100.
“It was amazing to watch,” said Luverne trap coach Scott Loosbrock.
Ahrendt finished the spring trap shooting season as one of the top 100 shooters in the state, earning an invitation to Friday’s event.
“That’s the top 100 out of 8,000 shooters in the state,” Loosbrock said. “That’s a very elite group of kids.”
Ahrendt’s season shooting average was 23.6, making him the first Luverne High School athlete in the team’s history to qualify for the state tournament.
Ahrendt’s two missed shots came back-to-back in the first round of 25. Loosbrock estimated that the misses came at shots No. 13 and 14 in the first round.
“I had to get myself calmed down and try not to be mad about it,” Ahrendt said.
After the first round Ahrendt talked with his coach. “Scott said, ‘Just go out there and have fun,’” he said.
Ahrendt then shot the next 86 clay targets perfectly. “My goal was to shoot a 98 or better and I achieved that goal,” he said Sunday.
Ahrendt likened the quiet atmosphere at the gun club to that of a golf tournament except with consistent pops from the shotguns being fired.
Participants and spectators talked in hushed tones while shooters focused on their targets. The pace between shots was quick.
“As soon as you grabbed a box (of shells), you were grabbing another one,” Ahrendt said.
Five champions were crowned at the state tournament, tying a record set in 2018. All five shooters finished with perfect scores of 100. Medals were awarded to the top eight shooters.
Organizers praised the high schoolers for their performances in the growing the sport.
“What an incredible thing for Minnesota to be the only state association in the country to offer this great activity for students,” said John Nelson, president of the Minnesota Clay Target League.
“Our numbers continue to grow and provide another co-educational opportunity, which is a wonderful thing.”
Ahrendt is a 2022 LHS graduate.