Eastmont students practice trap shooting at the Wenatchee Gun Club during a weekly team practice led by coach Jeff Hepton.
Out on the open landscape of Baker Flats, the sound of shotguns and the call of “Pull!” echo across the shrub-steppe as orange clay targets launch into the sky. Here, members of the Eastmont FFA Trap Shooting Club practice a sport that combines focus, discipline, and tradition.
Coached by Eastmont High School agriculture science teacher Jeff Hepton, the team practices twice a week at the Wenatchee Gun Club. Now in his fifth year as coach, Hepton works with 34 students from grades 7–12, bringing together participants from Eastmont High School and both junior highs.
The season begins in September and builds toward the state shoot in April, giving students months to refine their skills.
Before students ever step onto the range, safety comes first. Every participant must complete a hunter safety course, be an active FFA member, and maintain passing grades in their classes. Each student uses their own shotgun and practices by firing 25 shells per session at bright neon clay pigeons launched at more than 40 miles per hour from distances between 16 and 22 yards.
Some students come to the club with hunting experience, while others are discovering the sport for the first time. For many, it quickly becomes more than just an activity.
“I fell in love with it,” said 11th grader Kaelyn Peterson. “It’s my favorite thing in the world. This is going to be something I do the rest of my life.”
Standing in a line across the field in their red Eastmont shooting vests, students take turns calling for the target, tracking it across the horizon, and firing as the bright orange disc arcs against the wide sky. After practice, the field is scattered with fragments of clay pigeons: evidence of steady improvement and careful aim.
Trap shooting is a growing sport nationwide and an Olympic event, and Eastmont’s program is part of that momentum. Only about 28 school teams currently compete in Washington, making the club a unique opportunity for students in the region.
The Eastmont program was originally started by Bob Brown and continues to grow each year as more students discover the challenge and satisfaction of the sport.
For Hepton, the goal goes beyond hitting targets. His personal motto of “Be Better!” guides the team both on and off the range, encouraging students to improve not just their shooting, but their work ethic, focus, and mindset every day.
Programs like this help Eastmont students build skills, responsibility, belonging, and respect for traditions that matter to our community.
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