MONTICELLO, Ark. — The newly formed University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) Trap Shooting team competed in its first competition on February 28 at the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) South Central Regional tournament in Texarkana, Arkansas. The team had an outstanding first showing, sweeping the medals in the women’s collegiate division and securing first and second place in the men’s collegiate division.
In the women’s collegiate division, junior Chloe Hargis, a political science student from Woodlawn, earned third place; sophomore Sarah Forrest, a K-6 elementary education student from Warren, brought home second place; and senior Missy Gunnels, an agriculture student from Magnolia, won the competition.
“Competing at my first UAM Trap Shooting tournament was such an amazing experience,” Gunnels said. “Winning first place was truly exciting, especially seeing how well our team competed and knowing that all of our hard work and practice paid off.”
The team’s dominance carried over to the men’s collegiate division, where freshman Brody Little, a natural resources management student from El Dorado, won second place; and freshman Wyatt Womack, a land surveying student from DeWitt, won first place and posted the tournament’s highest score.
Womack reflected on his victory, stating, “The UAM Trap Shooting team prepared me for my win Saturday — from the equipment to the coaching to the support we have!”
UAM Trap Shooting’s performance in Texarkana qualified the team for nationals.
Chief John Kidwell, director of the University Police Department at UAM and team sponsor of UAM Trap Shooting, said, “I am excited that UAM Trap Shooting has earned a chance to compete in Ohio at the 2026 SCTP National Championships in July.”
The team’s next competition is March 15, in Magnolia, Arkansas, at the “Clays For A Cause” Trap Shoot Fundraiser hosted by the Compassion’s Foundation at the Farmers Bank & Trust Trap Shooting Range. On April 11, the team will compete in Jacksonville, Arkansas, at the 13th Annual Ducks Unlimited Trap Shoot at the AGFF/Jacksonville Shooting Sports Complex. At the end of April, team members will also begin volunteering at Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) youth state tournaments.
Formed in fall 2025, the UAM Trap Shooting team includes 15 student members (seven women and eight men) from UAM, the UAM College of Technology-Crossett and the UAM College of Technology-McGehee, with more expected to join. UAM Trap Shooting was established as part of a broader initiative at the university to diversify its extracurricular activities and provide students with unique opportunities that encourage personal development, foster a sense of community and cultivate valuable life skills that extend beyond the classroom. As shooting sports grow in popularity at the collegiate level, UAM is excited to join other institutions that have successfully integrated trap shooting into their team offerings.
The formation of the team was made possible through a UAM partnership with the AGFC Warren Shooting Sports Complex, which provides a quality venue for weekly practice. The team is funded, in part, by the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education Program (CFDA# 15.611) (Grant # F25AF01373) of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service through an agreement with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
For more information about UAM Trap Shooting, contact Chief John Kidwell at kidwell@uamont.edu or 870-460-1183.
