During their meeting Monday evening, the Triton School Board established a shooting club for Triton High School and approved a club sponsor. The club sponsor will be Ryan Meister, who has served as a coach for Triton in the past and is the owner of the ‘Back 40 Sporting Clays’ shooting range in Bourbon.
Superintendent Donna Burroughs said a number of students already participate in shooting sports in 4-H so there is an apparent interest in a club of this kind. She explained that target shooting competitions are a growing trend around the country.
“There is competitions, the only other school I’m aware of that does this is Culver Military Academy” Burroughs said, “but I know that the organization that sponsors it said they had about 50 Indiana schools contact them so I think it may be an up-and-coming sport.”
Burroughs mentioned many senior-citizens frequent the shooting range and the club hopes to pair students up with seniors to help pass along helpful tips. She expressed her excitement about the inter-generational possibilities of the club that could bring the community together.
Burroughs said to ensure student safety none of the guns will be kept at school. Sponsor Ryan Meister will keep all equipment locked up in a vault off campus. She said students will also need to complete a hunter/shooter safety course before they can be a member of the club.
Though the board did establish the club and approve a sponsor during their meeting, Burroughs explained it wouldn’t be started until the spring. The school must first hold meetings with parents as well as call-outs for interested students. The school board members are currently working on grants they can submit to help fund the endeavor and Meister has donated some guns to be utilized for the club.
