The Allen Community College Shooting Sports Team recently participated at the USA College Clay Target League Nationals in Bunker Hill, Illinois.
The event tested the Red Devils against some of the nation’s top collegiate teams, providing valuable experience for the fledgling team.
The team began its journey with mental management training, listening to an audiobook focused on maintaining clarity and focus under pressure.
“Mental clarity is key to performance,” said Coach
Jeremy Hess. “Our athletes embraced that concept and carried it into competition.”
Despite challenging conditions — including strong winds and a difficult corn stubble back-ground — the team remained resilient. Friday’s practice round helped athletes adjust, while Saturday’s cloudy skies and gusty winds added to the challenge. By Sunday, conditions improved, and the team delivered consistent performances.
Individual highlights included Weston Clever shooting a perfect round of 25 targets and Jaryt Hess achieving three perfect rounds, earning a spot in the top 20 among all male athletes. Shaun McLaughlin also stood out by surpassing his season average through strong mental focus.
The Red Devils enjoyed side events such as black light shooting and Annie Oakley-style competitions, where Sheldon Weber reached the final five in his flight and Hess finished as runner-up in his group. Coach Hess claimed victory among coaches in the Annie Oakley shoot.
Allen also celebrated its regular season conference awards during the event:
• Jaryt Hess — 2nd Overall Male
• Jozie Stagg — 3rd Place Female
• Allen CC Team — 1st Place Overall in the Conference
