BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
In Week 8 of competition, the Merrill Bluejay Varsity Trap Team faced off against the Mosinee Trap Team – their biggest rival – and pulled off an exciting win, 119-116. Both teams went into Week 8 undefeated, so it truly was a showdown between the two leading teams in this year’s Conference competition. With the win, the Merrill Bluejays emerged the victors and are currently the standouts: the only undefeated team in the Conference.
Two Varsity shooters scored perfect 25’s this week to help the Bluejays claim their victory: Robert (Bobby) Hoff shot another 25 and Matthew Steffen also shot a perfect score of 25.
After this week’s shooting, Merrill Varsity shooter Bobby Hoff rose to first place Varsity shooter in the Conference with a score of 188. Lakeland’s Ethan Schumacher is close on his heals. He ties him with a score of 188, but Hoff remains in the lead with 99 RR compared to Schumacher’s 78 RR. Merrill’s Christopher Holz retains his third place position in the Conference with a score of 187.
Merrill’s JV Team also beat the Mosinee competition this week, winning 118-106. And three Merrill JV shooters are in the top five shooters in the Conference in their division: Mathew Maas, Mason Meyer, and Alex Petrowski are in second, third, and fourth places, respectively, with scores of 184 (75 RR), 181 (92 RR), and 181 (80 RR). Merrill’s Maria Ashbrenner and Lily Kufahl retain their spots as first and second place female JV shooters in the Conference, with scores of 173 and 148, respectively.
This week, in Week 9, which is the final round of regular Conference shooting, Merrill will compete against the Rhinelander High School Trap Team. The Merrill Varsity Trap Team is keeping the Conference Championship in their sights, hoping to complete their 2024 regular Conference season undefeated.