The Allen Community College Shooting Sports team traveled to Harrisonville, Missouri this past weekend to compete in the Freeze-Out Shoot, hosted by State Fair Community College at Polecat Creek.
The two-day event featured competition in all three major clay target disciplines including Skeet, Sporting Clays, and Trap, and provided a valuable test for the Red Devils, who entered the weekend with limited practice time in Skeet and Sporting Clays.
Competition opened Saturday morning with Skeet, where freshman Weston Cleaver delivered one of the top performances of the entire meet. Cleaver posted a 96 out of 100, finishing with the third-highest Skeet score among all competitors.
Saturday afternoon shifted to Sporting Clays, featuring a demanding course that tested shooters across a wide range of presentations. Targets included long-distance crossers over open meadows and fast, technical shots through heavy timber. Cleaver again led the Red Devils, finishing with an impressive 84 out of 100, just two targets shy of first place overall. Freshman Shaun McLaughlin completed a personal best in the event.
“What excites me most is how quickly this group is growing, not just in skill, but in confidence and maturity. Each day at practice and competition it helps build the confidence to take another step forward. They’re coachable and they support each other,” said Jeremy Hess, Co-head coach of Allen Shooting Sports.
Sunday morning saw the team return to its strongest discipline, Trapshooting. Allen posted solid scores across the board, highlighted by a personal-best performance from freshman Shaun McLaughlin.
A standout performance of the day came from freshman Jozie Stagg, as Stagg broke 99 of 100 targets to earn the top Trap score of the entire event, securing the Female Champion trophy.
Cleaver added another strong Trap performance on Sunday, which helped him secure third place high overall when scores from all three disciplines were combined.
“Performances like Jozie’s and Weston’s were outstanding, but what makes me most proud is the team culture and excitement behind those performances. That’s what tells me we’re building something special,” added Hess.
“I’m incredibly proud of how this group handled the weekend. They’re learning fast, competing hard, and representing Allen well. As a new program, every event is an opportunity to grow our identity, and this team is embracing it. We’re excited to see the improvements we can make before going to Lonoke and for the rest of the season ahead,” concluded Hess.
The Red Devils will be back in action for their next competition, Tri State Shoot, scheduled for February 21–22 in Lonoke, Arkansas.
