The spring 2026 trap shooting season is currently underway in schools across Wisconsin the sport has exploded in popularity with over 3,500 student athletes competing across Wisconsin. In the center of this boom is the combined Wauwatosa West and East high school shooting team. This collaboration brings together students who are often rivals on other athletic fields, uniting them under one banner. 

Heading into the final stretch, the Tosa Team has achieved an undefeated 7-0 record. Most recently a close Individual Final victory against Lighting Shooting Sports where Tosa clinched the win by a signed bird 202-221.  Scoring is highly competitive and calculated by taking the top five scores from the squad’s two divisions. 

Next up, the 16 person team is moving on to the final conference shoot off the week of Saturday May 30th and Sunday, May 31st at the Waukesha Gun Club. They will stand on the line alongside dozens of rival teams and hundreds of participants, including the KM lasers from Kettle Moraine, the New Berlin Trap Club and Harford. 

“I would describe trap shooting as a sport centered around trying to hit a small clay disc flying through the air with a shotgun using birdshot,” said Braeden Young

Participants use shotguns to break a small clay disk launched from a concealed machine. Simulating a fleeing game bird, the targets are thrown away from the shooter at random left, right and straight angles with speeds averaging 42 mph. 

“For basic equipment, you obviously need your gun and ammunition. I usually use a shooting pouch to hold my ammunition while I shoot. You also need a good pair of eye and ear protection.” Said Sophomore Liam Wesson

While the gear is straightforward, the psychological battle of standing at the line is not simple.  Before calling” pull” to launch a target, shooters must combat intense mental pressure. Success requires a rare ability to quit the mind completely. 

One of the hardest parts about trap shooting is right before you take the shot  “I try to go completely blank. I try to have nothing going on in my mind so I can have as clear of a mindset as possible while taking the shot. Otherwise, I would just be whistling some music or thinking about upcoming plans.” Said Senior Braeden Young

Because trap shooting is an unforgiving sport, the tiniest mental or mechanical shift can completely derail a performance. 

“Another challenging part of the sport happened earlier this season when my performance suddenly dropped… my scores went from my usual 44 or 45 out of 50 down to a 30 out of 50. I solved this issue by going in for extra practice. I shot my gun at a steel board covered with paint to check the pattern… I discovered my pattern had a very large hole right in the middle, creating a ring instead of a complete circle. Once I switched out the choke… It fixed the issue.”said Sophomore Liam Wesson

Because trap shooting involves firearms, there can sometimes be misconceptions about the sport. 

However, those within the league know that the actual culture is rooted in intense camaraderie, mutual support and uncompromising safety. 

“Despite the use of shotguns, there is no actual violence in the sport. We are strictly shooting clay discs, and the people involved are generally very friendly and supportive of one another.” Said Sophomore Liam Wesson

Safety on the Tosa Trap team is a zero tolerance mandate.  “Gun safety is the single most important aspect of the sport. It is taken incredibly seriously—if someone isn’t being completely safe with their gun, they’re kicked off the course.” said Sophomore Liam Wesson

The team strictly enforces foundational rules. 

The Tosa trap shooting team also enforces other measures for safety including always keeping the muzzle of the firearm always pointed in a safe direction, always keeping their finger off the trigger until they are on the line, ready to fire and always keeping the safety of the firearm on. 

Tournament season transforms trap shooting into a weekend-heavy travel sport. For the Tosa team, this means logging miles across Wisconsin.  These miles help transform the individual students into a tight knit family unit. 

“My favorite part is how much traveling we do almost every weekend. Especially right now during tournament season, we are consistently traveling across the state. We go up north and visit different shooting centers, and it’s really cool to see all the different scenery. On top of that, I get to make new friends and shoot with different people of various skill levels.” Said Senior Braeden Young

The upcoming weekend conference shoot-off at Waukesha Gun Club is the first step in a post season calendar. The ultimate local test arrives on June 6th and 7th, 2026 at the Wisconsin State Tournament, followed by the highly anticipated National Championship in Mason, Michigan in July. 

Unlike traditional sports like basketball or track, trap shooting levels the playing field requiring no specific physical traits like height, wingspan or raw spring speed. It is a lifelong discipline relying on mental sharpness, focus and emotional grit above all else. 

As the undefeated Tosa team heads into the June postseason, they have already proven their capabilities.