Cavemen Trap and Skeet Teams Go 1, 2

By Don Eskins

The Cavemen varsity and intermediate Trap and Skeet teams competed in the New Mexico High School Clay Target Association’s state championships on June 5-8. The championships were held at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton.

Participants at this year’s meet competed in six events: trap singles, trap handicap, trap doubles, skeet, skeet doubles, and sporting clays.

Both of the Cavern City’s teams experienced a huge amount of success while representing their school and community.

Carlsbad’s intermediate team, consisting of eight shooters in grades six through eight, won the overall 2025 state championship. En route to this year’s state title, they collected first-place finishes in both skeet and sporting clays competitions.

Intermediate standouts at the meet were Taite Hoopes, Jerimyah Gordanier, Malayah Riley, Wyatt Hunt, Zander Luedecke, Ike Huskey, and Noah Gordanier.

The Cavemen varsity team, comprised of 10 shooters in grades nine through 12, finished as the state runner-up. Although placing second overall, the Carlsbad shooters placed first in the trapshooting competition.

Varsity standouts at state were Liam Baggs, Aidan Riley, Carter Atkins, Ethan Lyles, Elijah Lane, Hana Heft, and Avinlee Hoopes.

“Our coaching staff is so proud of these kids. This is the fifth time they’ve participated in the New Mexico High School Clay Target Association’s state meet, and this year, as in the previous four, they continued to amaze us,” said Carlsbad Skeet and Trap head coach Mark Hamel. “All of our shooters had personal best scores for the season in Raton, and all contributed to our success. Going one and two on the state’s biggest Trap and Skeet Shooting stage was an awesome feat for our kids.

“Although our varsity team has won multiple state titles over the past five years, this was the first for our intermediate team, so it was very special,” said Hamel. “Also, over the past four years, our varsity teams have had a history of being the best trapshooting team in the state. We were all really happy to see them continue that trend this year.”

Carlsbad’s 2025 Trap and Skeet team coaching staff consists of head coach Mark Hamel and assistant coaches Matt Riley, Trevor Hoopes, and James Gordanier.