As Michigan fields turn white with snow, the skies will turn gray… with gun smoke. Fenton Athletics is adding a new trap team which begins its first season this spring at the Linden Sportsman’s Club. Founded by junior Spencer Bundy, the team has been preparing all winter for the upcoming season.

“I wanted to start a shooting team because I really enjoy the sport, so I talked with my dad first,” Bundy said. “I told him my plans, then I went and talked to Mr. Bakker and our advisor, Mrs. Baker about it. The process of creating the team went smoothly. Once we found a league to join, we were all set.”

For those not familiar with the sport, players use a shotgun to shoot flying clay disks at 16 yards out, taking turns with their opponents. After five shots participants move one station over until they are done with their five stations.

“No one even close to us has a trap shooting team,” Baker said. “The only thing that comes close is Grand Blanc, and they shoot skeet. Hartland has archery, but no one else shoots trap. Skeet differs from trap in that skeet shoots from low and high towers across your body, while trap is from a house in the ground firing targets away from your body.”

This is not Baker’s first experience with trap shooting. She used to shoot trap in college at Eastern Michigan University, as well as shooting pistols, archery and skeet competitively.

The team has 30 members and is coached by Tom “Doc” Abraham. Trap is a self-funded sport; the shooters have to pay for equipment, shotgun shells and shooting range time.

“I chose to be the advisor because I am close family friends with the Bundys, and Spencer is the one who started this here,” Baker said. “The coach is close friends with them, too. He’s a podiatrist, so the entire team calls him ‘Doc.’ He runs the entire Linden Sportsman’s Club.”

The 30 members practice every Wednesday and once the season starts, the scores will be available online. The team will welcome new members.

“Matches start this spring,” Bundy said. “Anyone who wants to join can; they just need to show up at the Linden Sportsman’s Club at 5 p.m. on Fridays. We could always use more shooters. You don’t need to be a pro to join, a lot of our members are new to the sport of shooting.”