Clay targets team hosts annual shoot with cops, military

Rangers, community honor first responders, police officers, military members

The Forest Lake clay targets team hosted its annual “Back Your Buddy Community Fun Shoot” event at the Forest Lake Sportsmen’s Club on Saturday, May 18. It was a bright and sunny day where the communities and shooters of four schools – Forest Lake, Centennial, Spring Lake Park and Lakes International Language Academy – all participated in honoring a multitude of first responders and police officers, along with former and current military members, for their dedication and services with a friendly competition in target shooting.

The event, which started in 2018, brought in a wide variety of different first responders from all over the Forest Lake area. The club welcomed members of the Linwood, Forest Lake and Lino Lakes Fire Departments, officers of Ramsey and Washington County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as retired and active duty service members from local military bases, to name a few.

“It’s a great way to help build the community – these student athletes get to interact and shoot with the fire department, the police officers, the military. We truly dedicate this event to them for their services,” head coach David Madison said.

Each first responder and service member was paired with a target shooter from one of the four schools in hopes of recording the highest score amongst all other duos, accumulating upward of almost 50 different team combinations throughout the event. Prior to the early morning shoot-off, teams and members of the community took a moment of silence to honor the services of first responders and officers, including the ones who have fallen, while also taking part in the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem.

In addition to the fun shoot, a donation and giveaway took place with the help of the team’s booster club, Forest Lake Trap Booster, as well as sponsorships with the American Legion, Polaris, Running Aces, the Forest Lake Lions Club, Forest Lake Contracting, Olson’s Sewer Services and Olson’s Excavating Service, American Pump.

Succeeding the conclusion of the fun shoot, the members tallied the scores and kicked off the giveaway and gave out prizes to each first responder, followed by a community luncheon.

Season outlook

The Rangers wrapped up its special day of honoring the members of each department with a little target practice, and now look toward its last competition week of the 2024 campaign.

“They’ve really been shooting lights out [this season],” Madison said. “Our goal is to hopefully take the conference then, and it’s not for us as coaches – it’s for the kids.”

Forest Lake will have some time off to refocus before heading to Alexandria on Saturday, June 15, for the big Section 1A shoot, which will determine if the Rangers will make the cut in the top 40 of teams at the meet before hopefully advancing to the state shoot at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake on Friday, June 21.