The Big Horn Basin weather Monday evening challenged the resolve of student athletes on opening day of practice for the Powell Panther Clay Target Team. Gusts were blowing so hard that machine-thrown clay pigeons were actually landing behind team members on the range at the Heart Mountain Rod and Gun Club.

It was a day earmarked for students to get used to shooting again — a warm-up of sorts on a cold day. But as several returning members refused to put down their guns during the offseason, clays were being shredded despite the wind as quickly as morning Yoder's donuts in the Charge and Brew parking lot.

Newly appointed coach Ben Hubbard was pleasantly surprised as the third year team began the spring season with 18 participants from age 12 to 18. The team, founded by Larry Akin three years ago, is quickly becoming a force. Attendance has grown about 50% since the inaugural season and the experience gained for senior members should go a long way in competitions this year.

Akin remains the chairman of the club's board as he hands the reins to Hubbard.

"It's Larry's brain child. He invited me to not only become part of the board, but also to be a coach. I was an [assistant] coach under him for two seasons, and my kid [Callum] was like, 'Yeah, I totally want to do that.'"

Hubbard said Akin brought out the best in him, teaching organizational and educational skills through his never-quit examples.

"Larry is an absolutely remarkable man," Hubbard said. "He deserves so much more credit than he gets because of what he does for the community. I don't know where the guy gets his energy."

Akin is also an assistant coach.

Hubbard, the City of Powell building official and airport manager, learned shooting skills from his father, Duncan Hubbard of Colson, Montana. Ben is also on the board of the Rod and Gun Club and has been a dedicated marksman since he was a child.

"I'm not great at coaching or teaching, but I have a knack for being able to communicate to people, to do things as well as I can to bring shooters up to my level of proficiency," he said.

Hubbard's proficiency is high. He has helped numerous shooters in the region fix bad habits and improve accuracy. His son Callum, who has been getting lessons from dad since he was 2, is one of the top shooters on the Panther squad.

Randy Sears, competitive shooting sports coach for Polestar Outdoors, is one of the Panther's assistant coaches. His daughter Hannah worked her way up through the Polestar program and is now on scholarship with the Hastings College (Nebraska) Shotgun Sports team, but, regrettably, the Powell High team had yet to organize before she aged out.

On the road?

The team, which has yet to be invited to an invitational tournament, competes weekly, but will only actually travel this year to the state tournament. All but the championship will play out virtually with each team competing on their home course while keeping score online.

Virtual competitions help in two ways, Hubbard said. There's always a virtual team to compete against and limiting travel helps keep an already expensive sport reasonably priced.

Student athletes don't pay for ammo or range fees, but they do need to bring their own firearms and pay for room and board for all travel. They also are responsible for registering for each sport; $40 each for both trap and skeet. Only one or two competitors opt to only shoot one of the sports.

Trap practices are scheduled on Monday nights and skeet practice is reserved for Thursdays. While it's a tough schedule for some with practices starting at 5:30 p.m., the season runs for nine weeks before the state tournament. There is also a shorter fall season.

The team's only live competition last year (outside of the state tournament) was a day when Riverside traveled to Powell.

"It was great. It's fun to have the face-to-face competition," Hubbard said.

Financial support

The team will use approximately 100 cases of shotgun shells and clays for both trap and skeet. All 25,000 rounds have been paid for by sponsors, the largest of which are the Park County Parks and Recreation Board and Wyoming Outdoorsmen. Each entity has donated $10,000 to the team, covering a large portion of expenses.

Hubbard said there are several other sponsors and they are still searching for a few more during their current fundraising efforts. Team members are delivering sponsorship request packets into the start of the season to businesses and individuals. He has faith in area businesses wanting to support young outdoor sports enthusiasts, which in turn will take the sports and hunting traditions into the future.

"What we always need is money to be able to fund the rounds," Hubbard said.

Preserving our outdoor traditions is one of Hubbard's top goals — one which he is proud to support. But when pressed he admitted to becoming involved for the joy surrounding the sports and competitors.

"I should have some great inspirational quote, but I don't," he said. "It's a new thing for me, and I tremendously enjoy it. It's mostly selfish; I just enjoy doing it because it's fun."