When Andy Muesing steps out on the shooting range, his main objective is to have a great time.
"I feel no pressure, it's my senior year and all I want to do is have fun," Muesing said.
As a trap and skeet shooting enthusiast since his freshman year with the Brainerd Warriors Trap and Skeet Team, Muesing has fine-tuned his ability earning his spot in the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League State Championship Saturday, June 18 in Alexandria. It's the world's largest trap shooting competition lasting eight days and hosting roughly 1,150 high school athletes per day from all over the state. Top placers move on to the Minnesota State High School League Tournament June 25 at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake.
"Our group of friends usually goes out almost every Sunday and shoots together," Muesing said of practicing at the Lakeshore Conservation Club in Nisswa. "We are pretty competitive so each week we try to out-shoot each other fighting for whoever has top gun."
Muesing was the Warriors' varsity team high gun for the season with a season average of 23.3 targets broken out of 25. That placed him in the top 100 shooters (79th) out of 10,089 high school trap shooters in Minnesota. He has also been invited to compete in the MSHSL Tournament for the individual championship for the past two years. Muesing's sister, Jenny, was also a member of the Warriors' Trap and Skeet Team nearly placing in the Minnesota top 100 herself two years ago.
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Muesing uses a Beretta Sportsman 12-gauge shotgun which is the only gun he currently owns. He is also an avid hunter along with his sister, dad, and grandpa with an interest in hunting everything from turkey, geese and ducks to bear. He believes his trapshooting skills have made him more aware of his surroundings while hunting.
As for advice to any younger athletes looking to participate in trapshooting, Muesing said, "It's a mental game, don't get discouraged over a missed bird. There are plenty more to come."
Muesing claims the only challenge in trapshooting he has faced so far is staying mentally focused stating, "if you miss your first bird on your first station, that can really throw off your mental game."
TAMARA HORTON may be reached at 218-855-5882 or tamara.horton@brainerddispatch.com .
